Is It Illegal to Sit in the Bed of a Truck in North Carolina?

Driving around in a pickup truck with the tailgate down is a classic summertime activity, but what may seem like an innocent pastime could actually be illegal in some states. In North Carolina, it is illegal to sit in the bed of a pickup truck while it is being driven on public roads.

The law was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1989 and states that “No person shall ride in the back of any pickup truck on any public highway or public vehicular area.” While some exemptions exist for certain types of vehicles, such as farm equipment or certain special purpose vehicles, for the most part this law applies to all motor vehicles registered in North Carolina.

The purpose of this law is to protect people from potential harm. The bed of a pickup truck lacks many of the safety features found in modern cars, such as seatbelts and airbags.

Furthermore, there are no guardrails or other barriers between the passenger and any objects that may be thrown up by another vehicle. Sitting in the bed of a truck also increases its center of gravity, making it more difficult for drivers to control.

It’s important to note that even if you are not sitting in the bed of a truck while it is moving, you can still be cited for violating this law if you are seen by police officers standing up or otherwise behaving recklessly while riding in the vehicle. This includes standing up to wave at people or throwing objects out of the vehicle.

In conclusion, it is illegal to sit in the bed of a pickup truck while driving on public roads in North Carolina. This law was designed to protect people from potential harm due to lack of safety features and increased difficulty controlling the vehicle when someone is sitting in its bed. Even if you are not sitting down when driving, you can still be cited if seen behaving recklessly by police officers.

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Stephen Dunn