1939_public laws_148_2
CHAPTER 147 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSOLIDATED STATUTES OF ONE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED NINETEEN BY STRIKING OUT SECTION THREE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN AND INSERTING IN LIEU THEREOF A NEW SECTION RELATIVE TO THE SEPAR- ATE ACCOMMODATION OF WHITE AND COLORED PASSENGERS UPON STREET CARS AND OTHER PAS- SENGER VEHICLES. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:
Amend Volume one of the North Carolina Consolidated Statutes of one thousand nine hundred nineteen by striking out all of Section three thousand five hundred thirty-seven, and by inserting in lieu thereof a new section to read as follows: 3537. Passengers to Take Certain Seats: Violation of Requirement Misdemeanor.Any white person entering a street car or other passenger vehicle or motor bus for the purpose of becoming a passenger therein shall, in order to carry out the purposes of the preceding section, occupy the first vacant seat or unoccupied space nearest the front thereof, and any colored person entering a street car or other passenger vehicle or motor bus for a like purpose shall occupy the first vacant seat or unoccupied space nearest the rear end thereof, provided, however, that no contiguous seat on the same bench shall be occupied by white and colored passengers at the same time, unless and until all the other seats in the car have been occupied. Upon request of the person in charge of the street car or other passenger vehicle or motor bus, and when necessary in order to carry out the purpose of providing separate seats for white and colored passengers, it shall be the duty of any white person to move to any unoccupied seat toward or in the front of the car, vehicle or bus, and the duty of any colored person to move to any unoccupied seat toward or in the rear thereof, and the failure of any such person to so move shall constitute prima facie evidence of an intent to violate this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not exceeding thirty days. Any such person may also be ejected from the car, vehicle or bus by the person charged with the operation thereof. Each person now or hereafter charged with the operation of any such street car, passenger vehicle or motor bus is hereby invested with police powers and authority to carry out the provisions of this section.