DECEMBER 3, 2009 ISSUE
FYI: New Car Laws Now in Effect
Texting While Driving, License Plate Frames Now Illegal in North Carolina
Texting while driving is now illegal in North Carolina, as is the use of license plate frames. Violation of each law carries a $100 fine.
On Tuesday, December 1, two new laws went into effect in North Carolina that affect local and state motorists.
Beginning this past Tuesday, North Carolina drivers who text behind the wheel will need to pull over to avoid fines. Also on Tuesday, a new law went into effect requiring the state’s name across the bottom of the license plate as well as the year and month stickers on a license plate to be fully visible; they can no longer be partially covered by a license frame.
Joining more than a dozen states that already ban texting while driving, North Carolina enacted a law this week that makes it illegal to text or read any email or text messages while driving. Violations could cost drivers $100 in fines, and fines are higher for school bus drivers caught in the act.
The new law, though, only applies to the driver while the vehicle is moving, not when it’s stopped or parked. Police officers and other safety officials are exempt.
Motorists who failed to take off their cars’ license plate frame by this past Tuesday could face $100 in fines if caught in violation. The new law banning license plate frames was introduced in the 2009 session of the General Assembly and was supported by law enforcement officials because it increases the readability of registration information on the plates and helps identify vehicles registered in North Carolina.
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