This law has been on the books since 1953. It was exempt from enforcement during COVID, for obvious reason. The exemption from enforcement has been removed, as I understand it, but there were 6 exemptions to the law; holiday mask, workers needing mask, etc.

One of the exemptions to the 1953 law is:
§ 14-12.11. Exemptions from provisions of Article.
(6) Any person wearing a mask for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others.
The Senate voted to remove this exemption. The House has not voted. There are also provisions in the new law that addresses people that sit on highways and block traffic.

These are the main parts of the 1953 law.
§ 14-12.7. Wearing of masks, hoods, etc., on public ways.
No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, be or appear upon any lane, walkway, alley, street, road, highway or other public way in this State. (1953, c. 1193, s. 6; 1983, c. 175, ss. 1, 10; c. 720, s. 4.)

§ 14-12.8. Wearing of masks, hoods, etc., on public property.
No person or persons shall in this State, while wearing any mask........so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter, or appear upon or within the public property of any municipality or county of the State, or of the State of North Carolina. (1953, c. 1193, s. 7.)

§ 14-12.9. Entry, etc., upon premises of another while wearing mask, hood or other disguise. No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall, while wearing a mask.............demand entrance or admission, enter or come upon or into, or be upon or in the premises, enclosure or house of any other person in any municipality or county of this State. (1953, c. 1193, s. 8; 1983, c. 175, ss. 2, 10; c. 720, s. 4.)

§ 14-12.10. Holding meetings or demonstrations while wearing masks, hoods, etc. No person or persons at least 16 years of age shall while wearing a mask, ...........hold any manner of meeting, or make any demonstration upon the private property of another unless such person or persons shall first obtain from the owner or occupier of the property his or her written permission to do so................ (1953, c. 1193, s. 9; 1983, c. 175, ss. 3, 10; c. 720, s. 4.)

NC House Bill 237 Unmasking Mobs and Criminals
This is a link to the new law.

This post was edited on 5/16/24 at 7:09 pm