Photo: Ed Wingate//Unsplash
It may seem like common sense to stay at the scene of a collision when skiing or snowboarding, but new legislation in North Carolina now makes leaving one a criminal act. The North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 648 this week, and Gov. Josh Stein signed provisions to the Winter Sports Safety Act into law.
Lawmakers say existing statutes surrounding the state’s six ski resorts needed updating, and key among them was a specific provision that requires anybody involved in a ski or snowboard accident to stay on site and exchange contact information. The only exception, of course, is when leaving the scene of an accident is required to seek medical treatment or if it would be unsafe to stay in the immediate area otherwise.
In short, the new law operates just like those protecting against hit-and-run traffic accidents throughout the United States. Violation of the law is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, meaning penalties can vary based on the offender’s prior criminal record. In North Carolina, Class A misdemeanors can earn as much as 45 days in jail.
The new legislation in North Carolina is similar to laws already in place in states like California, Wyoming, and Washington.
“These improvements modernize the law related to skiing and snowboarding, keep pace with changes in technology, and ensure that our industry remains viable,” said Kimberley Jochl, President of the North Carolina Ski Areas Association.
North Carolina’s Winter Sports Safety Act first became law in the early 1980s and was last updated in 2009. New language was needed throughout the bill to address changes in the industry. For example, ski areas now have the right to bring civil action against guests who “misuse a ski pass,” referring to fraudulent passes or lending a pass to somebody else. Other updates include requiring ski areas to provide reasonable notice of trail and slope conditions through signage at lift terminals, ticket windows, or online.
