Section 20-176 - Penalty for misdemeanor or infraction(a) Violation of a provision of Part 9, 10, 10A, or 11 of this Article is an infraction unless the violation is specifically declared by law to be a misdemeanor or felony. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a1) of this section, violation of the remaining Parts of this Article is a misdemeanor unless the violation is specifically declared by law to be an infraction or a felony.(a1) A person who does any of the following is responsible for an infraction: (1) Fails to carry the registration card in the vehicle, in violation of G.S. 20-57(c).(2) Repealed by Session Laws 2016-90, s. 12(b), effective December 1, 2016, and applicable to registration cards issued on or after that date.(3) Fails to notify the Division of an address change for a vehicle registration card within 60 days after the change occurs, in violation of G.S. 20-67.(4) Operates a motor vehicle in violation of G.S. 20-146.2.(b) Unless a specific penalty is otherwise provided by law, a person found responsible for an infraction contained in this Article may be ordered to pay a penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).(c) Unless a specific penalty is otherwise provided by law, a person convicted of a misdemeanor contained in this Article is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. A punishment is specific for purposes of this subsection if it contains a quantitative limit on the term of imprisonment or the amount of fine a judge can impose.(c1) Repealed by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 16C.1(c), effective October 1, 2014.(c2) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-385, s. 5, effective December 1, 2013.(d) For purposes of determining whether a violation of an offense contained in this Chapter constitutes negligence per se, crimes and infractions shall be treated identically.Amended by 2021 N.C. Sess. Laws 185,s. 13-b, eff. 12/1/2021, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.Amended by 2016 N.C. Sess. Laws 90,s. 12-b, eff. 12/1/2016.Amended by 2014 N.C. Sess. Laws 100,s. 16C.1-c, eff. 10/1/2014.Amended by 2013 N.C. Sess. Laws 385,s. 5, eff. 12/1/2013.Amended by 2013 N.C. Sess. Laws 360,s. 18B.14-h, eff. 12/1/2013. 1937, c. 407, s. 137; 1951, c. 1013, s. 7; 1957, c. 1255; 1967, c. 674, s. 3; 1969, c. 378, s. 3; 1973, c. 1330, s. 34; 1975, c. 644; 1985, c. 764, s. 20; 1985 Reg. Sess., 1986 , c. 852, ss. 7,17, c. 1014, s. 202; 1993, c. 539, s. 379; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14 (c) . See 2014 N.C. Sess. Laws 100, s. 16C.1-g.