North Carolina Lawmakers Consider Restricting Pickup Bed Riding

A North Carolina House judiciary committee approved a plan to further restrict riding in open pickup truck beds.

House Bill 2340 prohibits anyone under age 16 from riding in the flatbed of a pickup truck. Current law allows children as young as 12 to ride in the area without a seat belt.

The bill also would remove a loophole that allows passengers of any age to ride in the cargo areas if they’re being driven in a rural area.

The plan was amended to give drivers one insurance point for the infraction instead of two points on their license. The change would raise insurance costs for the driver.

The bill needs the approval of the Senate before it can be sent to Gov. Mike Easley for his signature.

Latest Comments

• September 27, 2008 at 7:49 am

  Anonymous says:

  Its not the government's place to make decisions for any adult on weather they want to risk injury or not.
• June 27, 2008 at 6:15 am

  SP says:

  I agree, what's the problem? It's called natural selection. Hill Billy's die in accidents because they were dumb enough to sit in the back of an open truck bed. They don't rep... read more
• June 26, 2008 at 1:17 am

  Billy Joe Bob says:

  Hillbilly's and their kids have been riding in the back of pick-ups for decades without it being a major problem. I agree that restricting it on major highways might be a goo... read more