RALEIGH — TheNorth Carolina Senatepassed a law Thursday that would give parents two points on their drivers license for not buckling up their children in their cars. However, the law does not apply to pickup trucks.
Riding in the back of a pickup truck is legal in North Carolina for kids, as long as a parent is in the back with them. In 33 counties, it is legal without any restrictions.
Lawmakers say changing the law would be a tough sell given the state's rural roots.
"A lot of it is because of the custom of family farms and people using pickup trucks as their primary transportation," says Sen. Allen Wellons, D-Smithfield. "It's something that we can hopefully rectify in the future."
Senator Wellons also says part of the problem is economics. A pickup truck may be the only vehicle a family owns or can afford.
• Credits
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
