S582 - North Carolina Farm Act of 2023. (SL 2023-63)

Overview: Section 4.1 of S.L. 2023-63 makes it a Class 3 misdemeanor for the driver of any vehicle who knows or reasonably should know that animal waste, except for excreta from live animals; dead animals or animal parts, except for feathers from live birds; or animal byproducts have been blown, scattered, spilled, thrown, or placed from the vehicle to leave the scene of the incident. There are exceptions allowing the driver to leave the scene to call for a law enforcement officer, call for assistance in removing the materials that were blown, scattered, thrown, spilled, or placed from the vehicle, or to remove oneself or others from significant risk of injury. The court can also order restitution for the cost of removing the materials that were blown, scattered, thrown, spilled, or placed from the vehicle.

This bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 23, 2023, and that veto was overridden by the General Assembly on June 27, 2023.

This section became effective December 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.