With the Holiday’s approaching, here are some quick tips to stay safe and avoid any traffic tickets this season!

Make sure your license and registration are up to date.

Law enforcement is able to run license plate numbers through their database while they’re driving behind you. If the vehicle’s registration is expired, or the registered owner’s license is expired/suspended, that’s grounds for a traffic stop. So if you end up driving someone else’s car, check to make sure everything is up to date before getting on the road!

Remove your license plate cover.

Did you know that most license plate covers are illegal? Yes – even the ones the dealership gives you. North Carolina General Statute 20-63(g) explains that it’s against the law to have any frame that “makes a number or letter included in the vehicle’s registration, the State name on the plate, or a number or month on the registration renewal sticker on the plate illegible[.]”

Watch your speed.

The rumor that law enforcement won’t pull you over if you’re only going 9mph over the speed limit is just that – a rumor. Law enforcement has complete discretion over what speed over the posted limit they give out tickets for. So keep an eye on that speedometer!

Check your window tint.

In North Carolina, it’s illegal for the tint on your car to measure more than 32%. Even if you bought your car from a dealership, it’s always worth checking yourself – especially if you bought the vehicle used. If you’re traveling across state lines, take a moment to check their laws; a legal tint in North Carolina may be illegal in another state. N.C.G.S. 20-127. The best example is South Carolina, where the tint cannot exceed 27%.

Keep your open containers at home.

If it’s not sealed with the manufacturer’s original packaging, then it’s considered “open” for the purposes of the criminal statutes N.C.G.S. 20-138.7 and 18B-401. If you’ve been tasked to bring alcohol to your upcoming family gathering, make sure to bring something new and unopened. If you absolutely have to travel with an open container, then make sure that it’s stored in the trunk of your car.

Check other State’s laws before traveling.

And finally, check every state that you’ll be driving through for their specific requirements and regulations. Even if you’re an expert on North Carolina Traffic Law, there’s always small nuances in each State’s statutes that could take your vehicle from being in compliance to an easy ticket for law enforcement.

If you have any questions about the above tips and tricks, or have found yourself with a ticket over the holidays, Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A. is only a phone call away. Dial 336-714-4163 to schedule your free traffic consultation!