Fine Riding in Carolina: Exploring Squat Trucks with Modified Suspension Systems

What is Carolina Squat?

A "Carolina Squat" truck is one that has been modified to raise the front end of the vehicle higher than the rear.

A bill making it illegal to significantly raise the front end of a truck or other vehicle while lowering the back end has passed the South Carolina Senate. Senators voted 33-1 to ban what is commonly called the “Carolina Squat.” North Carolina has already passed a law to ban the modification in September 2021. The truck modification is now officially banned in both of The Carolinas. The modification in question is the front fender of the vehicle cannot be 4 inches above the rear fender. As of Dec 1st it’s illegal in North Carolina to modify your vehicle with the Carolina Squat. Under this new law, anyone who violates it 3 or more times will have their driver’s license revoked for at least a year.

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Text full of the Bill directly from South Carolina Legislature

2021-2022 Bill 4574: Unlawful to elevate or lower motor vehicle

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A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 5654445, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNLAWFUL ELEVATING OR LOWERING OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE PENALTY FOR A VIOLATION, SO AS TO PROVIDE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLES DRIVEN ON THE STATE’S HIGHWAYS SHALL NOT BE MODIFIED, ALTERED, OR CHANGED TO HAVE A DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE BACK AND FRONT OF MORE THAN FIVE INCHES WHEN NOT TOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND TO PROVIDE THIS SECTION APPLIES TO PICKUP TRUCKS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 5654445 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

“Section 5654445. It shall be unlawful for any a person to drive a passenger motor vehicle, as contained in Section 563630, on the highways of this State which has been elevated or lowered either in front or back more than six inches by a modification, alteration or change in the physical structure of the vehicle has a differential between the back and front of more than five inches when not towing another vehicle. Any A person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall must be fined not less than twenty five dollars nor more than fifty dollars. Provided, however, this shall not apply to motor vehicles commonly called ‘pickup trucks’.”

SECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide.  After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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