Sideview Mirrors

MichaelT

MichaelT

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Location
Charlotte
What is the legality of driving without sideview mirrors in North and South Carolina? I have been doing it for years and have never had a problem with the law but someone told me that I needed them.
 
I don't think the vehicle has to have them in SC...no inspections:driver:

I always had them in NC, so I'm not really sure:rolleyes:
maybe you've just got to have them during the inspection?
 
in NC you must have at least a driverside mirror. But with my CJ it just says tucked in with no problems from LEOs
Jason
 
I actually stoped and asked a cop in Myrtle Beach and he said that he didnt know if they are required or not
 
^I would say very few would know and if they did they would prob just tell you to get some. You'd have to catch the wrong cop on his bad day to get a ticket. If any cop asks me I'm gonna ask him why they come attached to my doors then and not my windshield
 
They are required. If your car only came with a driver's side mirror, then that's all it needs. If it came with both, it needs both. By law, the car needs to be equipped with ALL the safety equipment it left the factory with. It's not something they'd probably pull you for unless they were just looking for a good excuse to pull you. However, if you get pulled for something else, it's an easy add-on to the ticket. The only safety equipment I know you can ditch in NC is the reverse lights, and those are more of a convenience item anyways.
 
The only safety equipment I know you can ditch in NC is the reverse lights, and those are more of a convenience item anyways.
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I actually didn't know that til recently when I got an inspection. I was expecting to fail b/c of not having any and went right through.

:bounce2:
 
Zachs said:
Recheck the law cat. It's only required on the Driver side.
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My understanding was if it came with a passenger mirror, it needs to have one. Would they ever check? Most likely, no. Do I run one? Currently, no, although I will be mounting one eventually. Do I care enough to dig it up? Not really. If they want to bust me for something, I'm sure they can find something if they look hard enough. I want both of them for safety reasons. I like having the mirrors there.
 
You may be able to get by with just a rear view mirror. I ran just a rear view in South Carolina and Florida since i had my jeep. If you have none at all, then that would probably get more attention than not having side views. But if it is written law you are worried, then it wouldnt be hard to add a side mirror.
 
I was always told in NC you need 2 mirrors, pick any 2 of the 3 possible locations...1- center mounted windshield, 2- drivers side, 3-pass. side. The inspectors would tell me that, who knows if that's true or current info.

Then to comment on what bowtieman said, it doesnt matter if you have inspection or not, you can still get pulled/hassled/ticketed for not having proper equipment. Sometimes its best to play along and avoid the issue....hence the motorcycle mirror in my CJ door hinge :huggy:
 
Bronco - no doors = no mirrors
 
If a cop gave me crap for not having mirrors then i would get onto them for talking on their cell phone and never using turn signals. But i got the relocation brackets for my mirrors. So pay the $29 for the brackets and save yourself some trouble!
 
I had some but with them on I couldnt even see out of my passenger side when i had the doors on. Also the bolts stripped and I went through hell and high water to get them off, if I do go back to using them I will definately get some hex head bolts instead of whatever they gave me.
 
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