Drivers face enforcement of new laws Wednesday

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Drivers, you have one more thing to worry about tomorrow: your license plate, or at least what’s around it. A new law can earn you a hefty ticket.

The new law pertains to license plate frames found on many vehicles. Wednesday anyone who has one these frames can be fined more than $150.

Technically the law is nothing new. It went into effect last year, but enforcement starts now.

“It’s important, because it helps us identify vehicles that are expired,” Cpl. Michael Fike of the New Hanover Co. Sheriff’s Office said. “If you have any kind of cover covering your month and year stickers it prevents us from having the ability to look at that tag and see that it’s expired or if there is any problems with that tag.”

If the plate frame still lets you see the month and year sticker on the plate, but it blocks out the state, that’s a violation. You can still have a plate frame, but the stickers and the state name must be visible.

“I think it’s useless,” driver Ashley Blackmon said. She does not have a plate frame on her car, but thinks this new law is nit-picking, and she’s not alone.

“I don’t think it’s right,” Mohammed Kahtib said. “On my other car I have a frame for Tar Heels, and that’s my expression to Tar Heels, so I don’t feel right taking it off.”

The new law, though, has a few fans, who agree that law enforcement should be able to read license plates easily.

“I could understand why cops would want to get them off and charge people for it,” Stephanie Johnson said. “I can understand that.”

Whether you agree or not, starting Wednesday officers can pull you over and give you a ticket that would cost you $146 after court fees. The new law does not apply to out-of-state plates.

Also tomorrow, a change to North Carolina’s “Move Over” law. It already requires you to move over or slow down when passing an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road. The law now applies to utility crews.