PUBLISHED

N.C.G.S. § 166A-19.62

Civil liability of persons who willfully ignore a warning in an emergency.

Effective date: 2026-08-09
Last verified: 2026-08-09
Source: official source
Revision history: view all versions

In an emergency, a person who willfully ignores a warning regarding personal safety issued by a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, emergency management agency, or other governmental agency responsible for emergency management under this Article is civilly liable for the cost of a rescue effort to any governmental agency or nonprofit agency cooperating with a governmental agency conducting a rescue on the endangered person's behalf if all of the following are true: (1) The person ignores the warning and (i) engages in an activity or course of action that a reasonable person would not pursue or (ii) fails to take a course of action that a reasonable person would pursue. (2) As a result of ignoring the warning, the person places himself or herself or another in danger. (3) A governmental rescue effort is undertaken on the endangered person's behalf. (1997-232, s. 1; 2012-12, s. 1(b).)