The proposal that would allow law enforcement to take DNA on arrest for many crimes without a warrant or probable cause is headed to the NCGA House floor. HB 1403 Collect DNA on Arrest passed it's final committee and is scheduled to be heard on the House floor tomorrow, July 6th.

Call your House Representative today and ask them to oppose this bill on the floor! Contact your House Rep using the NCGA website.

Why is the bill suddenly on the fast track? Attorney General Roy Cooper is vocally supporting this end-run around the Fourth Amendment. In fact, he made news last week with a series of press conferences supporting the bill. His round of press conferences culminated in his appearance in the Senate Judiciary I Committee. After hearing the basics of the bill, the Attorney General stated that "You could make a good argument for putting your DNA or mine in there," the "there" he's referring to being the state DNA database. Well, at least he's being honest - this is a DNA grab and the Attorney General sees nothing wrong with the state demanding DNA from thousands of innocent individuals and putting their DNA report into the state database! That seems to suggest Attorney General Cooper intends to find other ways to expand the database in the future - perhaps including all people arrested for misdemeanors. Maybe after that, people stopped for traffic stops will have their DNA taken at the side of the road.

The Senate version of the bill, SB 1383 Safer Streets/DNA Initiatives is on the Senate Judiciary I Committee agenda tomorrow, July 6th. Call your Senator today and ask him or her to oppose this bill!