The Associated Press
A quick look at some of the more than 40 laws taking effect Saturday in North Carolina.
HANG UP: It becomes a misdemeanor, with a minimum $100 fine, for school bus drivers to talk on the phone while driving.
FEWER BREAKS: It will be harder for speeding motorists to get off with a lesser charge.
CARD 'EM: Those who provide alcohol to a minor could lose their driver's licenses.
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT: Rules will be set so motorcyclists can go through a red light that won't turn green because the motorcycle is too light to set off a sensor in the road.
THEFT: There will be new felonies for people who shoplift high-end merchandise or conspire to steal multiple times from a store with the intent to resell the goods.
CANINE CRIMES: Someone who willfully kills a police or seeing-eye dog could face a felony with possible prison time.
RESPECT THE DEAD: Anyone who vandalizes or defaces a grave marker, tombstone or other cemetery monument, no matter how small the damage, could face a low-grade felony.
SKIP THE DRINK: Alcohol inhalers, which use a mixture of vaporized alcohol and oxygen to put alcohol directly into the bloodstream, will be prohibited.
FRAUD: It will be easier to prosecute residential mortgage fraud by defining the practice and creating tougher punishments for repeat offenders.
FEED 'EM: It will be a higher grade of misdemeanor to kill an animal through intentional starvation.
NO CHOPPING: An automobile "chop shop" law makes it a felony for someone to disassemble a car that was illegally obtained or buy one with an altered identification number.
SHARING: Law enforcement agencies will have to turn over copies of all crime investigation records to prosecutors so that they can be made available to defense lawyers.
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