The whole North Carolina file

NORTH CAROLINA FIELD FILE

Every section, top to bottom.

About this guide — education built from the General Statutes of North Carolina as the General Assembly publishes them, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying them to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of September 2026.

Stop, and stay until the officer is done. In North Carolina, a driver who knows or reasonably should know their vehicle was in a crash that caused injury stops immediately and stays with the vehicle at the scene until an officer completes the investigation or authorizes them to leave, unless staying puts someone at significant risk of injury. Leaving is allowed only to call for police or medical help or to get out of danger, and the driver returns within a reasonable time.

G.S. 20-166

The crash caused	A willful violation is
The crash causedSerious bodily injury or death	A willful violation isClass F felony
The crash causedInjury	A willful violation isClass H felony
The crash causedOnly property damage	A willful violation isClass 1 misdemeanor

G.S. 20-166

A driver required to stop gives the person struck and the other driver or occupants their name, address, driver's license number and license plate number, and renders reasonable assistance to anyone injured, including calling for medical help if it is apparent that it is needed.

G.S. 20-166

The driver in a reportable accident notifies the police at once by the quickest means: the city or town police inside a city or town, and the Highway Patrol or sheriff outside one. A driver who hits a parked or unattended vehicle reports it to the owner within 48 hours with the time, date and place, their name, address and license number, and their plate number.

G.S. 20-166.1

No motor vehicle is registered in North Carolina without proof of financial responsibility, and the owner keeps it continuously for as long as the vehicle is registered. A driver in a reportable accident furnishes that proof when the Division of Motor Vehicles asks.

Sources for this section (3)

G.S. 20-166 — Duty to stop in event of a crash
G.S. 20-166.1 — Reports and investigations required in event of accident
G.S. 20-309 — Financial responsibility prerequisite to registration

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.

NORTH CAROLINA FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Being stopped

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

NORTH CAROLINA FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

After A CrashG.S. 20-166 — stop, stay, exchange information, and help anyone hurt▾

Open ContainerG.S. 20-138.7 — an open container in the passenger area, and alcohol in the driver's body▾

Your Phone Behind The WheelG.S. 20-137.4A — no texting or email while driving, and a $100 fine▾

Speed LimitsG.S. 20-141 — 35 in town, 55 outside, and a misdemeanor above 15 over or above 80▾

Reckless DrivingG.S. 20-140 — willful or wanton disregard, or a speed or manner likely to endanger▾

Seat BeltsG.S. 20-135.2A — every occupant belted, and a rear seat belt alone is not a reason to stop a car▾

Driving While RevokedG.S. 20-28 — a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a Class 1 when the revocation was for impaired driving▾

Being stopped

Traffic StopsG.S. 20-29 — the license shown and a name and address given when a uniformed officer asks▾

When You Must IdentifyG.S. 20-29 — the duty to give a name falls on the driver, and on a permit holder carrying concealed▾

Being ArrestedG.S. 15A-401 — when an officer may arrest without a warrant, and what the officer says▾

Reading A Search WarrantG.S. 15A-252 — the warrant read aloud, and a copy of the application and affidavit handed over▾

Consent SearchesG.S. 15A-223 — a search no wider or longer than the consent given▾

Marijuana and drugs

Marijuana And DrugsG.S. 90-95 — a half ounce of marijuana or less is a Class 3 misdemeanor▾

Impaired driving

The DWI StopG.S. 20-138.1 — impaired, or 0.08 at any relevant time after driving▾

Under 21 And DrivingG.S. 20-138.3 — any alcohol remaining in the body is enough, under 21▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackG.S. 42-52 — a written itemization within 30 days, and a cap set by how often rent is due▾

Being EvictedG.S. 42-26 — a court case called summary ejectment, and rent forfeited 10 days after a demand▾

Locked Out By The LandlordG.S. 42-25.6 — a residential tenant is removed only through the court▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItG.S. 42-42 — fit and habitable, and no withholding rent before a judge rules▾

Smoke And Carbon Monoxide AlarmsG.S. 42-42 — working alarms at move in, and 15 days to repair after written notice▾

Late Fees And Eviction FeesG.S. 42-46 — nothing until rent is five days late, and one late fee per late payment▾

Leaving A Lease EarlyG.S. 42-45.1 — 30 days' written notice with a protective order, and rent only to that date▾

Retaliatory EvictionG.S. 42-37.1 — a defense to an eviction filed within 12 months of a protected complaint▾

Getting PaidG.S. 95-25.7 — the last check on the next regular payday, and double the unpaid wages▾

Minimum Wage And TipsG.S. 95-25.3 — $6.15 an hour or the federal minimum, whichever is higher▾

Getting Public RecordsG.S. 132-6 — inspection by any person, copies as promptly as possible, and no reason required▾

Small Claims CourtG.S. 7A-210 — up to $10,000 before a magistrate, and 10 days to appeal▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeG.S. 1C-1601 — $35,000 in a home, $3,500 in a car, and retirement accounts▾

Unemployment BenefitsG.S. 96-14.5 — quitting takes good cause attributable to the employer▾

Getting DivorcedG.S. 50-6 — one year apart, and six months living in the state▾

AlimonyG.S. 50-16.3A — a dependent spouse, a supporting spouse, and an award that is equitable▾

Custody And Parenting TimeG.S. 50-13.2 — the child's best interest, and no presumption for either parent▾

Child SupportG.S. 50-13.4 — guidelines, due on the first of the month, and until 18 or school ends▾

Protective OrdersG.S. 50B-3 — up to one year, renewable, and no filing costs▾

Deceptive Business PracticesG.S. 75-16 — treble damages for an unfair or deceptive practice▾

Debt CollectorsG.S. 75-56 — $500 to $4,000 for each violation▾

Door To Door SalesG.S. 25A-39 — until midnight of the third business day to cancel▾

Old Debts And Time LimitsG.S. 1-52 — three years on a contract, and 10 on a judgment▾

Hurt At WorkG.S. 97-22 — written notice within 30 days, and a claim within two years▾

Discrimination At WorkG.S. 143-422.2 — employers of 15 or more, and the reasons the policy names▾

Housing DiscriminationG.S. 41A-4 — race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition or familial status▾

Dog BitesG.S. 67-4.4 — strict liability for a dangerous dog▾

The Lemon LawG.S. 20-351.3 — a replacement or a refund, at the buyer's choice▾

Changing A NameG.S. 101-2 — an application to the clerk of superior court where the person lives▾

Recording

RecordingG.S. 15A-287 — the consent of one party to the communication▾

Police Camera FootageG.S. 132-1.4A — not public records; viewing on written request, and a copy only by court order▾

Carrying a firearm

CarryingG.S. 14-415.11 — a permit for a concealed handgun, and disclosure when an officer approaches▾

Charges and penalties

The Theft LadderG.S. 14-72 — $1,000 is the line between a misdemeanor and a felony▾

Bail After An ArrestG.S. 15A-534 — an unsecured bond or a custody release first, unless the official finds a reason▾

AssaultG.S. 14-33 — a Class 2 misdemeanor, and Class A1 with serious injury or a deadly weapon▾

Clearing A RecordG.S. 15A-145.5 — three years for one nonviolent misdemeanor, and 10 for one nonviolent felony▾

What A Misdemeanor Class MeansG.S. 15A-1340.23 — the class and the prior record set the range▾

How you carry yourself

Public IntoxicationG.S. 14-444 — intoxicated and disruptive, not intoxicated alone▾

Disorderly ConductG.S. 14-288.4 — a public disturbance caused on purpose▾

Resisting And FleeingG.S. 14-223 — resisting, delaying or obstructing an officer is a Class 2 misdemeanor▾

Underage DrinkingG.S. 18B-302 — no buying, possessing or drinking alcohol under 21▾

TrespassG.S. 14-159.13 — told to leave, posted land, or a home's curtilage between midnight and 6:00 A.M.▾

Harassment And StalkingG.S. 14-277.3A — more than one occasion, and a reasonable person in fear▾

Walk it through