When You Must Identify
G.S. 20-29 — the duty to give a name falls on the driver, and on a permit holder carrying concealed
The sections this page cites put a duty to identify on particular people in an encounter with police. A driver, or the person in charge of a vehicle, gives a name and address, the owner's name and address, and the license when a uniformed officer asks; refusing, or giving a false name or address, is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
A person carrying a concealed handgun under a permit tells any law enforcement officer who approaches or addresses them that they hold a valid permit and are carrying, and shows the permit and identification on request.
At an arrest, the officer identifies too. On making an arrest, a law enforcement officer identifies themselves as an officer unless that is already apparent, tells the person they are under arrest, and as promptly as is reasonable tells them the cause of the arrest, unless the cause is evident.
Sources for this section (3)
- G.S. 20-29 — Surrender of license
- G.S. 14-415.11 — Permit to carry concealed handgun; scope of permit
- G.S. 15A-401 — Arrest by law enforcement officer
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.