Bill Summaries: S629 DRIVER IMPROVEMENT CLINICS/MOTORCYCLES.

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  • Summary date: Apr 6 2023 - View Summary

    Amends GS 20-16, allowing the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to use a third-party vendor to establish and conduct any driver improvement clinic authorized under the state for licensees who have met a threshold of accumulated points. Makes conforming changes to subsection (c). Limits the $70 fee for such clinics to only DMV-conducted clinics. Requires all driver improvement clinics to include training on the dangers of a lack of motorcycle safety awareness. No longer requires notice of license suspensions under the statute to be in writing. Makes language gender neutral and makes technical changes. Effective October 1, 2023, and applies to driver improvement clinics conducted on or after that date.

    Enacts subsection (c) to GS 20-146.1, authorizing a motorcycle to overtake and pass another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel in the same lane if five conditions are met, including that the road or highway is divided into two or more adjacent traffic lanes in the same direction of travel with a speed limit of 55 mph or less, and the motorcycle is traveling at a speed or 15 mph or less. Effective December 1, 2023.

    Amends GS 90-157.1, governing funeral processions, to include motorcycles in the defined term "funeral procession."

    Enacts GS 136-18.08, barring the Department of Transportation (DOT) from taking any "action," defined to include formulating policy, adopting rules, allocating funds, and designing, constructing, planning, operating, and maintaining transportation facilities, that prohibits or imposes a requirements that apply only to a motorcyclist with the principal purpose is to restrict or inhibit the access of a motorcyclist to any highway, bridge, tunnel, or other transportation facility. Requires DOT, and owners and operators of transportation facilities funded at least in part by State or local funds, to make reasonable accommodations for motorcycle parking at transportation facilities; though not requiring the structural or technological modification of parking structures constructed or substantially completed on or after July 1, 2023. Defines "reasonable accommodation" to include sectioning portions of an existing parking space where the size does not meet building code requirements for full-size motor vehicles. Specifies that the requirements do not alter or supersede any State or federal law that prohibits or imposes a requirement that applies only to a motorcyclist. Effective July 1, 2023.