Trained civilians could respond to minor car crashes if bill passes

CHARLOTTE — A bill was introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly that states police officers would no longer respond to fender benders and other minor car crashes.

If passed, House Bill 140 would allow trained, civilian investigators, to answer those calls instead.

The city of Charlotte and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are backing the proposed bill.

“They would be trained,” said Dana Fenton, with Charlotte’s intergovernmental relations. “There would be rules in place for how they’re deployed, and what they can do.”

A civilian crash investigator would have to go through four weeks of training in a program created by the North Carolina Justice Academy, according to the bill.

Crash investigators would also be given credentials that they would present at a crash site.

They would wear uniforms, which are different from the ones that are issued to police officers.

Their vehicles would not have blue lights and can’t have any police markings.

They also cannot carry weapons and would not be able to arrest or cite anyone.

It’s a proposal that’s fueling mixed reactions from drivers.

“People will respect a police officer,” driver Lincoln Wright said. “They may not respect another individual like myself, which could lead to some kind of altercation.”

“I think we’re all trained enough on how to be of more self-service than waiting around for minor fender benders,” driver Kevin Allison said.

The bill has already gone through a committee and could go before the House in the next few weeks to be voted on.

It also has the support of several state lawmakers from Charlotte.

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