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[KSweeley]

This is absolutely disgusting, North Carolina had a proposal that would protect North Carolina drivers if they hit protesters, according to this article, the proposal is allegedly dead in the water: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article167100452.html

Drivers who hit protesters in the street aren’t likely to get help from state lawmakers this year.

The state House of Representatives approved legislation, House Bill 330, that aims to give civil and criminal immunity to motorists who unintentionally hit people in the middle of the street. Drivers would be protected if they exercise “due care” in navigating the street – but still hit protestors.

The bill, which hasn’t been considered by the Senate, drew renewed attention over the weekend. A 20-year-old man is accused of driving his car into a crowd of people in Charlottesville on Saturday, prompting some to call for the bill to be dropped.

The bill would likely have to go through the Senate Rules and Operations Committee before going to the Senate floor and then, if passed, to the governor. State Sen. Bill Rabon, the committee’s chairman, released a statement on Monday signaling the bill has no traction.

“As far as I can recall, none of the House sponsors have asked for this bill to be heard in the Senate, and there are no plans to move it forward,” said Rabon, a Republican from Southport. He released the statement through Shelly Carver, a spokeswoman for Senate leader Phil Berger. Carver said Berger, a Republican from Rockingham County, couldn’t be reached for comment.

Gov. Roy Cooper would veto the bill if the Senate does pass it, said Ford Porter, a Cooper spokesman.

“The governor does not think we should be passing laws that try to protect people who drive cars into protests,” Porter said. Cooper is a Democrat.

 

[ModBot]

These bills are super ugly wherever they are being proposed, but given the number of actual news stories, we don't need a thread to say that a bill isn't planned to go forward but also isn't off the table. Feel free to make a thread if the bill advances or is formally cancelled.