A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing the city of greenville to employ traffic crash investigators for wrecks involving only property damage and to assist in traffic direction and control as well as enhance existing authority granted to civilian traffic investigators for the city of wilmington.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  The Charter of the City of Greenville, being Chapter 272 of the Session Laws of 1981, is amended by adding a new Article to read as follows:
"ARTICLE V.
"Transportation.
"Sec. 5.1. Traffic Crash Investigators. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the City may employ and allow nonsworn personnel to investigate traffic crashes. The nonsworn personnel shall be known as "Traffic Crash Investigators."
(b)	All of the following shall apply to Traffic Crash Investigators (hereinafter "Investigator" or "Investigators") employed by the City:
(1)	The City shall establish the minimum standards for employment as an Investigator.
(2)	Each Investigator shall attend a training program designed by the Greenville Police Department in consultation with the North Carolina Justice Academy. Upon completion of the training program, each Investigator shall spend not less than four weeks of field training with a law enforcement officer who has experience conducting traffic crash investigations.
(3)	Each Investigator shall be issued credentials by the City identifying the individual as a Traffic Crash Investigator. The Investigator shall produce official credentials at any time when requested by a member of the public involved in or a witness to a crash.
(4)	Investigators shall be issued a uniform that is substantially different in color and style from that of a law enforcement officer for the City. The uniform shall have patches that clearly identify the individual as an Investigator, and the individual's name shall be clearly displayed on the uniform. Investigators shall not be issued badges.
(5)	Any vehicles issued to, or used by, an Investigator shall not bear markings or symbols that identify the vehicle as a police vehicle. The vehicle may have emergency equipment and lights installed but shall not use blue lights in any manner or form. Red and amber lights are permissible.
(6)	Investigators shall not be issued a weapon of any type.
(7)	Investigators shall have no authority to arrest or issue criminal process.
(8)	Investigators shall investigate crashes involving only property damage and shall comply with all provisions of G.S. 20‑166.1. A report completed by an Investigator shall be treated the same as if it were completed by a law enforcement officer for purposes of G.S. 20‑166.1(i). A law enforcement officer shall investigate any crash involving personal injury or a fatality.
(9)	Investigators shall have the same authority as a law enforcement officer to tow or remove a vehicle that is obstructing a public street or highway.
(10)	Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Investigators shall have the same authority as a law enforcement officer to direct all traffic in conformance with law and, in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to ensure safety, to direct traffic as conditions may require."
SECTION 1.(b)  Not later than December 31, 2023, the City of Greenville shall submit to the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice and Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety a written report on the training and use of Traffic Crash Investigators, as authorized in Section 1(a) of this act, for the period commencing on the effective date of this act and concluding November 1, 2023.
SECTION 2.  Section 8 of S.L. 2007‑218 reads as rewritten:
"SECTION 8.(a)  A Civilian Traffic Investigator shall have no authority to arrest or issue criminal process, except citations pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. A Civilian Traffic Investigator shall not be issued a weapon of any type.
"SECTION 8.(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Civilian Traffic Investigator shall have the authority to issue citations for infractions under Chapter 20 of the General Statutes related to the traffic crashes that the Civilian Traffic Investigator investigates."
SECTION 3.  S.L. 2007‑218 is amended by adding a new section to read as follows:
"SECTION 9A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Civilian Traffic Investigator shall have the same authority as a law enforcement officer to direct all traffic in conformance with law and, in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to ensure safety, to direct traffic as conditions may require."
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.