On Sunday, more than a dozen new laws will take effect in North Carolina. Among other revisions, the new rules include improved standards for sex offenses, juvenile justice, and human trafficking.
Human trafficking awareness
The Department of Labor began creating training on human trafficking awareness on December 1. Additionally, the new act changes the definition of a victim and stiffens the penalty for the first crime of soliciting a prostitute. To learn more about House Bill 971, click here.
‘Raise the Age’
Beginning on Sunday, juvenile offenders between the ages of 16 and 17 who commit specific felonies may face adult-level charges. An initiative known as “Raise the Age” was developed to keep juvenile criminals out of the adult criminal justice system.
North Carolina was the only state in the nation until 2019 to automatically charge all 16 and 17-year-olds as adults, even when it came to minor infractions.
The transfer procedure for juvenile cases including indictments is also described in this new statute. It occurs as a result of an increase in significant crimes perpetrated by youth, according to Triad officers. HB 834 can be read more about here.
Gas station heroin
Known as “gas station heroin,” tianeptine is a highly addictive drug that will be removed from North Carolina stores on Sunday.
The Food and Drug Administration states that tianeptine, either alone or in combination with other medications, can cause a number of dangerous side effects, such as agitation, sleepiness, disorientation, perspiration, a fast heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, delayed or stopped breathing, coma, and death.
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Agriculture laws
The state’s agriculture laws were modified starting on December 1. First, a new law makes it clear that horseback riding is included in the definition of agriculture in Senate Bill 355.
Horse rearing, management, care, and training are all included in it. Along with requiring identification in order to transport pigs, the law also mandates that licenses or permits be suspended for a particular amount of time if the bearer has been found guilty of specific crimes.
Click here for a comprehensive list of all the laws that will be enacted.
