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| URL | https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/driving-safety/Pages/driving-laws.aspx | |||||||||
| Last Crawled | 2026-04-26 19:54:32 (1 day ago) | |||||||||
| First Indexed | 2018-07-16 11:23:27 (7 years ago) | |||||||||
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| Meta Title | NCDOT: North Carolina Driving Laws | |||||||||
| Meta Description | N.C. Department of Transportation's information about parking, headlights, red-light right turns, crashes, texting, litter and other driving laws | |||||||||
| Meta Canonical | null | |||||||||
| Boilerpipe Text | ​​​​​
The laws for safe travel on North Carolina roads go
beyond observing the speed limit and wearing a safety belt. There are several
other laws motorists must abide by.
​Topic
​Law
​Parking
on highways
​Parking
on highways is prohibited.
​Headlights
​Motorists must use headlights from sunset to sunrise; when light conditions restrict visibility to 400
feet or less; or when using windshield wipers during inclement weather.
​Right
turns on red​
​Right turns at a red light are permitted after a complete
stop unless otherwise posted. Left turns on red are not permitted.
​Traffic
accidents
Crashes involving death, personal injury, or
property damage of $1,000 or more must be reported to the nearest law
enforcement officer or agency.
​Failure to report could result in prosecution and/or
driver license suspension.
​
Fender Bender Law
​Motorists must move their vehicle to the shoulder
of the road following minor, non-injury wrecks to help keep traffic moving and
reduce the likelihood of secondary wrecks. Failure to do so could result in a $110 fine and
court costs.
​
Move
O​ver Law​
This law requires motorists to move over a lane or slow down considerably when approaching emergency vehicles (including NCDOT vehicles) stopped on the side of the road with lights flashing. Failure to do so could result in a $250 fine, and violators could also face misdemeanor or felony charges, if someone is injured or property is damaged.​
​
Quick
Clearance Law
​If
a law enforcement officer and an NCDOTÂ representative concur, a parked, standing or disabled vehicle can be moved off
the roadway by any means necessary if it poses a safety concern.
​
Littering
​Disposing of litter on public or private property, except by an individual who owns the property, is illegal. Violators could face a fine of up to $200 and community service.
Related:
Litter Prevention & Management
Swat-a-Litterbug
Cellphone use
​Drivers under 18 are prohibited from using a mobile
phone or technology associated with a mobile phone while driving except in
emergencies or when talking to a parent or spouse. Violators pay a $25 fine but receive no driver license points, insurance surcharge or
court costs.
​
Texting
​Drivers
are prohibited from reading or writing text messages or emails while the
vehicle is moving. Violators are subject to a $100 fine and court costs.
​Helmet
law
​Helmets meeting federal standards are required when riding a motorcycle or moped. Children under 16 must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.
Related:
Motorcycle Helmet Requirements
BikeSafe North Carolina
​Seat
belts and safety seats
​All occupants of a vehicle must wear a seat belt. Front-seat passengers who violate the law are fined $25. Back-seat passengers are fined $10.
Children under age 8 who weigh less than 80 pounds must be secured in a safety seat while riding in a vehicle. Older children must transition to booster seats before graduating to an adult safety belt.
Drivers who fail to properly secure children face $125 in fines and court costs, as well as a two-point penalty on their driving record.
Related:
BuckleUpNC.org
Child Passenger Safety
NHTSA​
​Driving
while impaired
Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration at or
greater than 0.08 percent are charged with driving while impaired. The minimum punishment is a fine of up to
$200 and a possible term of imprisonment ranging from 24 hours to 30 days. The maximum punishment is a fine of up
to $4,000 and a possible term of imprisonment ranging from 30 days to two
years.​
​License
suspension
Drivers convicted of driving while impaired will have their licenses suspended by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles for at least one year. Individuals with a prior DWI conviction may be subject to punishment as a felon, and their vehicles may be seized and sold.
Related:
DWI License Suspensions & Revocations
11/18/2025 9:31 AM | |||||||||
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| Readable Markdown | ​​​​​ The laws for safe travel on North Carolina roads go beyond observing the speed limit and wearing a safety belt. There are several other laws motorists must abide by. ​Topic ​Law ​Parking on highways ​Parking on highways is prohibited. ​Headlights ​Motorists must use headlights from sunset to sunrise; when light conditions restrict visibility to 400 feet or less; or when using windshield wipers during inclement weather. ​Right turns on red​ ​Right turns at a red light are permitted after a complete stop unless otherwise posted. Left turns on red are not permitted. ​Traffic accidents Crashes involving death, personal injury, or property damage of \$1,000 or more must be reported to the nearest law enforcement officer or agency. ​Failure to report could result in prosecution and/or driver license suspension. ​ [Fender Bender Law](http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-161.html) ​Motorists must move their vehicle to the shoulder of the road following minor, non-injury wrecks to help keep traffic moving and reduce the likelihood of secondary wrecks. Failure to do so could result in a \$110 fine and court costs. ​[Move O​ver Law​](https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/driving-safety/Pages/move-over-law.aspx "Move Over Law") This law requires motorists to move over a lane or slow down considerably when approaching emergency vehicles (including NCDOT vehicles) stopped on the side of the road with lights flashing. Failure to do so could result in a \$250 fine, and violators could also face misdemeanor or felony charges, if someone is injured or property is damaged.​ ​[Quick Clearance Law](http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_20/GS_20-161.html) ​If a law enforcement officer and an NCDOT representative concur, a parked, standing or disabled vehicle can be moved off the roadway by any means necessary if it poses a safety concern. ​[Littering](http://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-399.html) ​Disposing of litter on public or private property, except by an individual who owns the property, is illegal. Violators could face a fine of up to \$200 and community service.Related:[Litter Prevention & Management](https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/environmental/litter-management/Pages/default.aspx) [Swat-a-Litterbug](https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/environmental/litter-management/Pages/swat-a-litter-bug.aspx) [Cellphone use](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/SessionLaws/PDF/2025-2026/SL2025-38.pdf "Learn more about cellphone use ") ​Drivers under 18 are prohibited from using a mobile phone or technology associated with a mobile phone while driving except in emergencies or when talking to a parent or spouse. Violators pay a \$25 fine but receive no driver license points, insurance surcharge or court costs. ​ [Texting](https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_20/gs_20-137.4a.html) ​Drivers are prohibited from reading or writing text messages or emails while the vehicle is moving. Violators are subject to a \$100 fine and court costs. ​Helmet law ​Helmets meeting federal standards are required when riding a motorcycle or moped. Children under 16 must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.Related:[Motorcycle Helmet Requirements](https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/motorcycle/Pages/safety-helmet-law.aspx) [BikeSafe North Carolina](https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/bike-safe/Pages/default.aspx) ​Seat belts and safety seats ​All occupants of a vehicle must wear a seat belt. Front-seat passengers who violate the law are fined \$25. Back-seat passengers are fined \$10.Children under age 8 who weigh less than 80 pounds must be secured in a safety seat while riding in a vehicle. Older children must transition to booster seats before graduating to an adult safety belt.Drivers who fail to properly secure children face \$125 in fines and court costs, as well as a two-point penalty on their driving record.Related:[BuckleUpNC.org](http://www.buckleupnc.org/) [Child Passenger Safety](https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/safety/child-passenger-safety/Pages/default.aspx) [NHTSA​](https://www.nhtsa.gov/ "Learn more about NHSTA") ​Driving while impaired Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration at or greater than 0.08 percent are charged with driving while impaired. The minimum punishment is a fine of up to \$200 and a possible term of imprisonment ranging from 24 hours to 30 days. The maximum punishment is a fine of up to \$4,000 and a possible term of imprisonment ranging from 30 days to two years.​ ​License suspension Drivers convicted of driving while impaired will have their licenses suspended by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles for at least one year. Individuals with a prior DWI conviction may be subject to punishment as a felon, and their vehicles may be seized and sold.Related:[DWI License Suspensions & Revocations](https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/license-suspension/Pages/driving-while-impaired.aspx) 11/18/2025 9:31 AM | |||||||||
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