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RALEIGH (AP) - North Carolina lawmakers were planning to return to Raleigh on Wednesday to consider fighting Gov. Mike Easley's veto on a bill that would ease restrictions on towing boats.

The veto session has required some Democrats, such as House Speaker Joe Hackney, to book last-minute flights back from their party's national convention in Denver. As of Tuesday, Easley and Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, had no plans to return.

Although the bill passed by wide margins in both chambers, legislative leaders haven't decided whether they'll vote to overturn Easley's veto, allow the veto to stand, or draft a compromise bill.

Hackney, D-Orange, believes most members in his chamber want the opportunity to consider the legislation again, spokesman Bill Holmes said Tuesday.

"At this point, there is overwhelming support for overriding the veto," Holmes said.

The state's constitution requires North Carolina governors to call lawmakers back to session within 10 days of vetoing legislation; If they don't, the vetoed bill automatically becomes law. Easley announced the session on Monday.

Summoning lawmakers back to Raleigh puts the measure, which would allow boats up to 10 feet wide to be towed without a permit, back in the General Assembly's hands. The measure also lifts some restrictions on when boats can be towed by allowing watercraft between 8 1/2 and 9 1/2 feet wide to be towed at night and on weekends.

Last Sunday, on the last day that he had to take action on legislation from the summer session, Easley rejected the boat towing measure, citing safety concerns. A top Easley aide had warned lawmakers before they passed it that the governor thought it would endanger motorists and other travelers, especially when the big boats are pulled on narrow bridges and roads.

Legislative leaders can overturn Easley's veto if three-fifths of members present vote in favor of the bill. The veto will stand if there aren't the requisite votes.

But with the relatively short notice and some Democrats out of town for their party's national convention, it's also unclear how many lawmakers will attend the scheduled Wednesday morning session.

The plan's supporters had pushed this year for the legislation as a way to help North Carolina boaters and fishing tournaments who felt current boat towing law was too restrictive.

But opponents, including safety coalitions and the state Highway Patrol, said the changes would cause accidents.

"This legislation, as written, will jeopardize safety on our highways," said Bryan Beatty, the secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety in a letter to newspapers Monday.

In the 11 years since the General Assembly granted North Carolina governors the power to reject legislation, it has never overpowered a veto.

Some vetoes have been sustained because lawmakers have declined Easley's call to return to Raleigh for session.

On others, lawmakers have hashed out last-minute compromises, such as with last year's measure originally written to provide economic incentives only to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Lawmakers retooled the plan to include Goodyear's competitors.

Holmes acknowledged that lawmakers could adopt the same approach this year.

"They have brokered agreements on these sorts of things before, and they very may well again," Holmes said.

In a statement when the veto was issued, Easley said he was disappointed there was no provision limiting the blood-alcohol level a boat tower could have. The governor also said the proposal would be out of line with other states' boat towing restrictions.

Both the House and the Senate would need to either override the measure or approve new legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, speaking from the Democratic convention in Denver on Monday, said he didn't know what his chamber would do if the House voted to override Easley's veto.

He noted that he opposed the legislation and said that most of the fishing tournaments that proponents said would be helped by the legislation have already concluded.

"I think the cost is such that we'd be better served to wait until January to do this," Rand, D-Cumberland, said.