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PUNISHMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES

NCJ Number
69191
Editor(s)
J C DRENNAN
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOKLET LISTS STATUTORY PUNISHMENTS FOR CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES IN CHART FORM AS APPLICABLE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Abstract
THE CHART IS LIMITED TO THREE CATEGORIES OF OFFENSES: OFFENSES THAT OCCUR FREQUENTLY AND THOSE THAT APPEAR FREQUENTLY IN THE ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSE SECTION OF THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES OR IN THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL'S ARREST-DISPOSITION REPORT; SERIOUS OFFENSES THAT MUST BE HEARD BY DISTRICT OR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES (DRAWN FROM THE 'UNIFORM POLICIES RELATING TO TRAFFIC OFFENSES'); AND OFFENSES WITH UNUSUALLY SEVERE OR LENIENT PUNISHMENTS. DIRECTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR LOCATING THE PUNISHMENT FOR OFFENSES NOT INCLUDED IN THE CHART. ADDITIONALLY, THE CASE OF STATE V. SPENSER IS FULLY DISCUSSED AS HAVING HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CATCH-ALL PUNISHMENT SECTIONS OF THE STATE'S CRIMINAL LAW AND AS CONTROLLING FOR ALL MOTOR VEHICLE MISDEMEANORS PUNISHABLE BY THE LANGUAGE CONSTRUED BY THE COURT. DISCUSSION IS DIRECTED TO SHOWING HOW THE CASE HAS DIRECT AUTHORITY FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MISDEMEANORS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OR IMPRISONMENT OR BOTH IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT ARE INDEED SUBJECT TO A 2-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE OR A FINE OR BOTH. ASTERISKS IN THE CHART INDICATE RELEVANCE TO THE SPENCER CASE AND CASES WHEREIN LICENSES MUST BE SURRENDERED TO THE COURT. A SCHEDULE OF POINT VALUES WHICH, WHEN ACCUMULATED, MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION OF THE OFFENDER'S LICENSES, IS PRESENTED, AND OFFENSES FOR WHICH NO POINTS CAN BE ASSESSED ARE LISTED. THE PUNISHMENT CHARTS, WHICH FORM THE BULK OF THE BOOKLET, SHOW THE GENERAL STATUTE, THE MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT, THE PUNISHMENT CITATION, AND A DESCRIPTION OF EACH OFFENSE. OFFENSES ARE BROKEN INTO RULES-OF-THE-ROAD VIOLATIONS, VEHICLE REGISTRATION VIOLATIONS, ACCIDENT RESPONSBILITY LAWS, INSURANCE AND EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS, AND SUCH MISCELLANEOUS VIOLATIONS AS OFFENSES INVOLVING DEATH BY VEHICLE, CAR THEFT, AND TRANSPORTING SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL.