PASSENGER PROTECTION ACT. (NEW)

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View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
House Bill 391 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 19, 2019
AN ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY LAWS AND TO CREATE NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSES RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY DRIVERS.
Intro. by Bell.

Status: Ch. SL 2019-194 (Aug 9 2019)

SOG comments (3):

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original long title was AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR USED VEHICLES SOLD BY DEALERS ON A SALVAGE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 2nd edition changed the long title. Previous long title was AN ACT TO AMEND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES; CREATE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE FOR IMPERSONATING A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY DRIVER; ESTABLISH THE COMMISSION TO STUDY TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY PASSENGER SAFETY; AND CREATE A STUDENT AWARENESS CAMPAIGN RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES.

Long title change

Senate committee substitute to the 3rd edition changed the long title.  Original long title was AN ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY LAWS, CREATE NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSES RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY DRIVERS, AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO ASSIST IN CREATING STUDENT AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES.

Bill History:

H 391/S.L. 2019-194

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Aug 12 2019 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY LAWS AND TO CREATE NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSES RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY DRIVERS. SL 2019-194. Enacted August 9, 2019. Effective August 9, 2019, except as otherwise provided.


  • Summary date: Jul 22 2019 - View Summary

    Senate amendment makes the following changes to the 5th edition.

    Modifies and adds to the proposed changes to GS 20-280.5 as follows. More specifically requires transportation network companies (TNCs) to keep for one year a record of each TNC driver's current address the TNC has on record at the time the driver's relationship with the TNC ended. Concerning the required license plate number displays in TNC driver vehicles, adds that the vehicle license plate number must be printed in a legible and contrasting font no smaller than three inches in height (previously, did not require contrasting font and had a two-inch minimum height requirement). Qualifies the proposed requirement for TNCs to require a TNC driver to display consistent and distinctive signage or emblems at all times when the TNC driver is active on the TNC digital platform or when providing any TNC service which reasonably assists customers to identify or verify a TNC driver responsible to a ride request. Adds a new subsection, effective July 1, 2020, to allow a TNC to seek approval from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for technological identifiers as an alternative to the required distinctive signage or emblems. Permits DMV approval if it reasonably assists customers to identify or verify a TNC driver responsing to a ride request. Requires the approved technological identifiers to be used in the same manner as other distinctive signage or emblems.


  • Summary date: Jul 10 2019 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 4th edition makes the following changes.

    Deletes the changes to GS 20-208.6 that would have required transportation network company drivers to be at least 21 years old instead of at least 19 years old.


  • Summary date: Jul 8 2019 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 3rd edition makes the following changes.

    Deletes the provisions establishing and related to the Commission to Study Transportation Network Company Passenger Safety. Deletes the appropriation to the Division of Motor Vehicles for grant funds for the development and implementation of an awareness campaign to educate students at institutions of higher education, as well as the provisions related to that campaign. Makes conforming changes to the act's long title. 


  • Summary date: Jun 26 2019 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes.

    Amends proposed GS 20-280.5, now requiring transportation network companies (TNCs) to have the vehicle's license plate number displayed in a legible font no smaller than two inches in height (was, no small than the font of the license plate on the vehicle). Adds a new provision to specify that a TNC driver is not required to obtain approval from the TNC or the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the required license plate number display.

    Enacts GS 14-401.26, making it an infraction punishable by a $250 fine for a TNC driver to fail to display the license plate number of the TNC driver's vehicle as required by new GS 20-280.5(d). Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2019.

    Changes the proposed GS number for the impersonating a TNC driver offense created by the act.

    Enacts GS 14-33(c)(9), making assault of a TNC driver providing a TNC service a Class A1 misdemeanor (rather than a Class 2 misdemeanor for simple assault). Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2019.

    Appropriates $500,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund to the DMV for the 2020-21 fiscal year as grants funds to match higher education institution funds to develop and implement an awareness campaign to educate students at higher education institutions (previously, appropriated $100,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2020-21 fiscal year to the UNC Board of Governors to develop and implement an awareness campaign to educate students at constituent institutions on informational requirements of TNC drivers under current state law and those enacted). Specifies that the appropriations are to be used as grant funds until fully awarded. Specifies that the primary focus of the campaign is TNC driver identification requirements. Allows all higher education institutions in the state to apply for a grant by submitting a campaign plan, cost estimate, and evidence of institution funds committed for the campaign. Specifies that the grant matches non-State dollars of applicants on a 1:1 ratio, with the grant capped at $10,000 per applicant per fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2020.


  • Summary date: Jun 4 2019 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition deletes the previous provisions and now provides the following.

    Titles the act as the Passenger Protection Act.

    Amends GS 20-280.5, now requiring transportation network companies (TNCs) to specifically include in their records each driver's name and current address of drivers for one year from the date the driver terminated their relationship with the company. Adds a new requirement for TNCs to require drivers to display the license plate number of the vehicle so that it is visible from the front at all times during service, as specified, but does not require the license plate to be permanently mounted. Effective October 1, 2019. Effective July 1, 2020, further requires TNCs to require drivers to display consistent and distinctive signage or emblems on the vehicle at all times when the driver is active on the digital platform or when providing any service. Allows the signage or emblems to be magnetic or removable, subject to DMV approval and specified visibility parameters. 

    Amends GS 20-280.6 to raise the minimum age requirement for TNC drivers from 19 to 21 years old.

    Enacts GS 14-276.2, making it a Class 2 misdemeanor to impersonate a TNC driver by false statement, false display of distinctive signage or emblems of the TNC, or any other act that falsely represents that the person has a current connection with the TNC or falsely represents that the person is responding to a passenger ride request for a TNC. Increases the offense to a Class H felony if the person impersonates a TNC driver during the commission of a separate felony offense. Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2019. 

    Establishes an 11-member Commission to Study Transportation Network Company Passenger Safety, charged with studying issues related to TNCs and their operation, including public safety, law enforcement, and reporting requirements. Sets out membership of the Commission, consisting of 10 members appointed by the General Assembly as well as the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary's designee. Provides for meetings, vacancies, member expenses, and Commission staff. Directs the Commission to make an interim report to the 2020 Session of the 2019 General Assembly and make a final report to the 2021 General Assembly. Terminates the Commission upon filing of its final report. 

    Appropriates $100,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Fund for the 2020-21 fiscal year to the UNC Board of Governors to develop and implement an awareness campaign to educate students at constituent institutions on informational requirements of TNC drivers under current state law and those enacted. Effective July 1, 2020. 


  • Summary date: Mar 19 2019 - View Summary

    Amends GS 20-183.4C to authorize a dealer to sell, without inspection, a used vehicle issued a salvage certificate of title in accordance with GS Chapter 20 if no repairs have been made to the vehicle after issuance of the salvage certificate of title, and the dealer discloses in writing that no inspection has been performed.