Drivers find a way to keep their "Carolina Squat" truck modification after ban

RALEIGH, Wake County — A truck and SUV modification known as the “Carolina Squat” is now banned in the state of North Carolina. The law went into effect on Wednesday and officials are now enforcing it, but some drivers have found a way to keep their squat.

A truck modification salesman in Jacksonville said drivers have found a way to level their trucks temporarily for driving on the road and squatting during truck shows.

“There are a lot of squatted trucks around here,” salesman Blake Peffley said.

Related: ENC reacts to possible ban on Carolina Squat truck modification

Peffley said the new law could mean trouble for many North Carolina drivers.

“It wasn’t one of the things we liked to do. I saw this coming because there is a little bit of a safety issue,” Peffley said.

Highway Patrol Troopers are enforcing the ban.

“You can have no more of a variance than four inches from the front fender to the back fender so sometimes it will be a visual observation and there are some vehicles that I have personally seen that are probably double that,” said Highway Patrol Sergeant John Edwards.

Related: NC governor signs bill banning 'Carolina Squat' modification to pickup trucks

Edwards said the squat creates a safety issue and those and drivers will be ticked.

“Anyone that is convicted within a 12-month timeframe with three of these citations will have their license suspended by the court," Edwards said.

Peffley said body shop phones are ringing off the hook with people trying to get rid of their squat temporarily.

“They’re asking for a bag that goes in the rear of the suspension that they can air down so if they go to a truck show they can still squat which is perfectly legal to show but you just can’t drive on the road with it,” Peffley said.

Peffley said since the law went into effect, he has scheduled several appointments to install airbags.

“It’s kind of a good thing for us because we’re getting more business but we are just here to help out with anything we can do,” Peffley said.

Related: 'Carolina Squat' mod could be banned in SC with pre-filed bill

Troopers said the law doesn’t mention anything about using an airbag to temporarily lift a truck so they can’t ticket that modification.