H 202

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
  SESSION 2025
 H  1
  HOUSE BILL 202
 Short Title:   Defense Against Porch Pirates Act.  (Public)
 Sponsors:      Representatives Logan and Willingham (Primary Sponsors).
  For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
 Referred to:   Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
  February 26, 2025
1A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF LARCENY OF MAIL.
3 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
4SECTION 1. This act shall be known as "The Defense Against Porch Pirates Act."
5SECTION 2. Article 16 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding
6 a new section to read:
7 "§ 14-72.10. Larceny of mail.
8     (a)     Definition. – For purposes of this section, the term "mail" means a letter, package,
9 bag, or other item of value sent or delivered to another.
10     (b)     Offense. – A person is guilty of the offense of larceny of mail if the person does either
11 of the following:
12(1)     Unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, the mail of another
13person with the intent to deprive the other person of that mail.
14(2)     Unlawfully transfers, or exercises unlawful control over, the mail of another
15person or an interest in the mail of another person with the intent to benefit
16the person or another person not entitled to that mail or interest in that mail.
17     (c)     Punishment. – Unless covered under some other provision of law providing greater
18 punishment, a violation of this section is punishable as follows:
19(1)     A Class A1 misdemeanor if the offense is a first offense and the value of the
20mail is less than two hundred dollars ($200.00).
21(2)     A Class G felony if the offense is a second offense and the value of the mail
22is less than two hundred dollars ($200.00).
23(3)     A Class E felony if the offense is a first or second offense and the value of the
24mail is two hundred dollars ($200.00) or more.
25(4)     A Class D felony if the offense is a third or subsequent offense or if the value
26of the mail exceeds two thousand dollars ($2,000)."
27SECTION 3. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses
28 committed on or after that date.
  *H202-v-1*