H656 Summary

• Extends motor vehicle forfeiture laws to include felony speeding to elude arrest offenses under G.S. 20-141.5(b) or (b1), previously applicable only to impaired driving cases.

• Creates a "Speeding to Elude Arrest Acknowledgment" document requiring vehicle owners to acknowledge future seizure and forfeiture if the same person operates the vehicle and commits felony speeding to elude arrest again.

• Allows judges to determine vehicle forfeiture for felony speeding to elude arrest at sentencing, in a separate post-conviction hearing, or at a forfeiture hearing held at least 60 days after defendant fails to appear at trial.

• Requires revocation of vehicle registration for persons convicted of felony speeding to elude arrest until their driver's license is restored, and prevents registration of any vehicle in the convicted person's name during this period.

• Becomes effective December 1, 2013 and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.