The North Carolina House of Representatives recently passed a bill that seeks to make the Carolina Squat illegal.
For those readers who may be unaware, the Carolina Squat is a relatively new trend in vehicle modification whereby a vehicle is raised in front and lowered in the rear, giving it a negative rake angle. Also known as the Dover Dip, the Tennessee Tilt, and the Cali Lean, the trend is popular among truck and SUV owners, but now, North Carolina is seeking to ban the trend outright.
The bill, sponsored by Representatives B. Jones, Bell, Saine, and Hardister, states that “a private passenger automobile shall not be modified or altered by elevating the automobile more than 3 inches from the manufacturer’s specified height in the front and lowering the automobile more than 2 inches from the manufacturer’s specified height in the rear. A private passenger automobile modified or altered in violation of this subsection shall not be operated upon any highway or public vehicular area.”
Critics argue that the modifications make vehicles unsafe, affecting handling and braking, while also reducing forward visibility. The modifications are also believed to cause undue stress on mechanical components.
The bill passed the North Carolina House of Representatives on may 6th. If the bill passes the North Carolina Senate, the ban on the Carolina Squat will be made effective on December 1st. Penalties for breaking the law could include a fine or license revocation.
In response to the new bill, proponents of the Carolina Squat have launched a change.org petition to keep the modifications legal.
“People made a petition to get sqautted [sic] trucks illegal cause they don’t like it or think it looks dumb but us Carolina boys made this petition to keep it legal cause we like it and if it a tooted up we don’t want it,” the petition reads.
The petition has collected 22,237 signatures as of this writing.
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Source: North Carolina General Assembly
Comments
“People made a petition to get sqautted [sic] trucks illegal cause they don’t like it or think it looks dumb but us Carolina boys made this petition to keep it legal cause we like it and if it a tooted up we don’t want it”
lolwut
dumb ass
What’s up with the kayak racks (on backwards)? I HIGHLY doubt any of these guys enjoy a nice weekend kayak trip 🤣…
As far as the truck, not my style. I modify cars and vans, and as long as it’s safe, I’m fine by it. With these you can’t even see a pedestrian crossing at a light. Just seems unnecessary.
I’m one that normally supports the tasteful modification of vehicles but this clearly isn’t tasteful and potentially even dangerous due to visibility issues. Thankfully this hasn’t caught on in my area, I’m more than happy to let the southern states keep this trend lol.
Dumbest thing I’ve seen to date
Modifications can be cool! Just not in this scenario. 😂
Sure it kinda silly. But it’s probably a driving hazard.
Looking at the white Yukon, how could anyone see the road out of that thing?
Ah another dumb trend in America.
Fortunately the government is snuffing this one out before you know it.
I was under the impression that most states in the US have ‘bumper height’ restrictions already on their lawbooks regulating how far from stock bumper height modifications are allowed to be made.
Apparently NC is not one of those states; legislators need to get busy and quash this ‘squat’ nonsense immediately. Forward visibility must be terrible in such vehicles, creating a traffic hazard, not to mention how stupid they look.
Most states don’t have bumper height or lift laws, and those that do often don’t apply them to light trucks, and even less apply to >10,000 GVWR HD trucks. NC has a bumper law for passenger cars only.
…i get it…makes getting the oil change easier…cars today are boring…so they need to spend money on something. This is the stupidest modification I have ever seen. After watching 2 minutes of the video…I had seen enough. my 67 Nova at 54 years old has more class than these contraptions…wake up…get these jokes off the road.
Hey it’s not my thing but is it anymore dangerous than those folks who drive around with their high beams on or is it more we don’t like the look?
It’s already illegal to blind oncoming traffic. If NC didn’t get around to bumper-height restrictions, better late than never.
Let me know how you feel if someone in one of these heaps doesn’t see you in a crosswalk and keeps going–if you live.
Like they do on cell phones…. currently!
Can we see a reverse Carolina Squat?
The shop that makes that modification is next door to the barbershop that will give you a reverse mohawk.
Huge liability in an frontal accident , victims car going under the front end of truck, not going to be pretty.
Not my thing here at all. But what is the difference vs a raised 4×4?
I have driven a number of very lifted trucks tha the front was higher and visibility was no better.
I could see the same rules being applied to lifted Jeep’s and trucks.
Best thing to do is ignore this and it will pass like many short therm fads.
Go drive one of these and tell me there is no difference. The difference is a regular lifted truck is usually level giving you a normal field of view. The way these are sitting you are looking at the stars. The majority of regular lifted trucks are in the 2 to 6 inch range resulting in minimal visibility change. Extreme lifted trucks will have a harder time seeing directly in front of them but are already illegal in most states.
Jim my point is not that the 4×4 is bad it is just the same argument can be applied.
I have driven mister muddier trucks lifted so high up that cars in front of you vanish. Also they were high enough that I could drive up on a trunk lid.
The problem comes in when laws are passed many in power have no clue between 2 inch lifts to ten inch.
To rid us of this tail dragging mess legally they to be targeted with more than bumper laws
Politicians are stupid so you need to get specific when it comes to laws like this. Or you may create issues for others.
To be honest I would just ban these tail drag fees because the are breaking the laws of taste and nature.
I sell lifts and I see what these people try to pass as laws.
Personally I think some of it is a little to much an yes makes ur frontal feild of veiw much less. I think it need s some restrictions. An on other hand over the years every generation has had their on thing. Big wheel cars loud exhaust loud street’s lower cars wide wheels an tires so on an so forth.But that’s their thing an their property.Thats like live in a community that has an HOA if that’s ur thing that’s ur business doesn’t give u the write to hate on someone who doesn’t. To many people in this world whose life’s are so boring an drab they have to get into some one else’s business that’s what most of these comments are about.
hope your never hit by one. no brains
Ban it, ticket them. There is a bumper height restriction what the hell is wrong with the police. South Carolina has the same problem with these stupid hillbilly vehicles. What make you think if you hit someone you kill them or seriously injure them. Why do you even want a vehicle you can not see over or behind depending on how they jack them up. If they injure someone sue them for everything they have or will have. Irresponsible nitwits.
This is illegal already. Headlights too high and improperly aimed. Bumper too high. No need to ban the “squat” just actually enforce automotive regulations already on the books.
I cant believe anyone who can afford a Tahoe could be that stupid!
Some of the Tahoes in the photos are pretty old. I don’t imagine they’re too expensive, though the Covid vehicle shortage may have changed that.
this is no different that the husband with a pittbull with covid 19 who bit his wife and mother in law and the both died…At the funeral the husband had the dog and 50 guys lined up behind him…When he told a guy what happened the guy asked if he can borrow the Pitbull,,,husband said…’get in line”
I agree anyone should have the right to pimp there ride but … In the case of safety i have to go with what’s going to pass . i have to be driving next to vehicles on highway and local streets. Vehicles like that should be left for car shows not everyday rides
PLEASE PASS THIS LAW… Soon!!!
Anything someone can do these days to stand out no matter how stupid it looks is the going thing with this generation.Wake up already dealing with way too loud ass mufflers enough already.👎
I am praying this bill does not pass most people on here just saying it looks dumb and is stupid nobody cares about your opinion listen I’m a teen building my truck it’s has a 6 in lift and a 3in body lift I’ve grew up around lifted trucks my whole life and I promise you if nc bans squatted and lift kit modifications nobody’s gunna listen cause it’s stupid certain tint is illegal and people don’t listen. Instead of banning squatted trucks that “dangerous” how bout you ban alcohol that kills way more people…. yall a bunch of snowflakes
Learn to punctuate. You’re no James Joyce.
Seems quite obvious that higher education was banned within your household so the squat ban shouldn’t be that much of a stretch for ya.
An adult can help with any of these reading words that not can’t be a sounded out.
We can’t get Euro vehicles because they aren’t Federalized yet we can do modifications that diminish visibly.
Give be an Opel Mokka and we will call it even!
How do you aim the headlights?
I think you add Black & Decker Snakelights.
Call it whatever you want it looks like a dog squatting to take a dump
Anyone stupid enough to do that to a vehicle needs to be driving a bicycle. It must be a liberal thing anything goes men that want to be women.These punks have got to much time on their hands hike your skirts up get off the gov tit and carry your ass back to work
These boys must make major bucks what with after all those dollars spent on wheels, stereo and squat to have money left for car insurance and any child support owing.
Whitebred Gangsta Lean?? Y’all lucky this ban won’t stand a chance of being overturned on the grounds of racial equity.