Proposal would let Congress members use police blue lights in NC

Members of Congress could run blue lights on their cars, something prohibited now for everyone but law enforcement, under bipartisan legislation filed this week at the statehouse.

Senate Bill 618 would cover only current members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, only their officially registered vehicles and only "in the performance of the member's official duties."

"There are frequently times when they're trying to meet deadlines," sponsoring Sen. Floyd McKissick, D-Durham, said Thursday.

McKissick said Democratic 1st District Congressman G.K. Butterfield asked for the bill. McKissick lined up a Republican co-sponsor: Sen. Danny Britt, R-Robeson.

"Any bills I have, I look for bipartisan support," McKissick said.

Britt didn't respond to a message Thursday seeking comment on the legislation.

Current law makes it Class 1 misdemeanor for anyone other than law enforcement to have blue lights on a vehicle.

McKissick said he understands that members of Congress are allowed to use blue lights in other states. He said Butterfield cast the issue, in part, as a safety matter.

"So they could get out of situations where their life would be at risk," McKissick said.

After WRAL News asked about the bill, McKissick spoke with Butterfield again and said the measure was not a high priority.

"He thinks it would be good, but it's not something that should become a distraction," McKissick said.

The bill was filed Wednesday and referred to the Senate Rules committee.