ROAD LAWS TO KNOW
Is it legal to ride in a truck bed in NC?
A pickup truck drives along the sloped lot at the Mountaineer Inn on Tunnel Road on March 23 in Asheville.
North Carolina's laws around passengers riding in the bed of a pickup truck or other cargo area are relatively loose.
There are a handful of unusual legal questions that tend to come up yearly during the summer months in North Carolina; one popular subject for these questions is how to pile as many people into one vehicle as possible.
It's common knowledge that riding in the bed of a pickup truck is not particularly safe, as such cargo areas offer no protection in the event of a crash. Despite this, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists over 20 states with no state laws around the practice.
While North Carolina is not one of these states, its laws around passengers riding in the bed of a pickup truck or other cargo area are relatively loose. Primary rules surround the passenger's age and the driver's unobstructed view of the road. There are no laws at all around transporting animals in the bed of a pickup truck, and the penalty for breaking the laws that do exist are not particularly serious, with only a $25 penalty for infractions and no possibility of points on the driver's license or similar action.
Here's what to know this summer about the laws that do exist in North Carolina, plus the answers to similar legal questions and more.
Is it legal to ride in the bed of a pickup truck in North Carolina?
As explained by BuckleUpNC.org, children under the age of 16 are generally prohibited from riding in open pickup truck beds or other open cargo areas in the Tar Heel State.
While a stipulation to the rule allows children in pickup truck beds with "permanent overhead restraining constructions," the organization notes that the definition of such a construction has never been strictly defined by the N.C. legislature or courts.
The general interpretation of this is that such a structure must be welded or bolted to the vehicle, while a camper shell held on with clamps or a similar structure would likely not be considered permanent.
Is it legal to ride in the trunk of an SUV in North Carolina?
As trunks are considered cargo areas, the same rules generally apply to passengers riding in the trunk in North Carolina.
Can children ever ride in the bed of a pickup truck in North Carolina?
BuckleUpNC also provides a list of situations in which exceptions can be made to the law that forbids children under 16 to ride in the bed of a pickup in North Carolina, though it notes that none of them are recommended:
„■If an adult is present in the bed or cargo area and is supervising the child „
â– If the child is secured or restrained by a seat belt in compliance with FMVSS 208 installed to support a load of 5,000 lbs. for each belt and of a type approved by the Commissioner
■„ If the vehicle is being operated in a parade
■„ If the vehicle is being operated in an agricultural enterprise, including providing transportation to and from the principal place of the agricultural enterprise „
â– If an emergency situation exists
What is the penalty for riding in a pickup truck bed in North Carolina?
Fines for violations of N.C.'s laws around riding in pickup beds will not exceed $25 for the driver, who is responsible for all children under 16 in the vehicle, regardless of whether the child's parent is present. Any ticket resulting from violations of these rules will not result in license points or court costs.
Can dogs ride in the bed of a pickup truck in North Carolina?
BuckleUpNC also notes that, while there are some restrictions around human passengers in the beds of pickup trucks, no similar statutes exist for animal passengers in the state. The website does note, however, that the American Veterinary Medicine Association recommends that pets be secured by a kennel in the truck bed or harness inside the cab while driving.
How many people can ride in a truck bed in North Carolina?
While there is no specific legal limit on truck bed passengers, North Carolina does have laws prohibiting overloaded or overcrowded vehicles from operating. In particular, it is unlawful to operate a vehicle on a highway or public vehicular area if the driver's view of the road is restricted.
Reporting is by Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times, for USA TODAY Network.
