Unusual traffic stop reveals driver is 12, and he’s late for school, NC cops say

A rush hour traffic stop took a surprising turn when the officer realized the driver was only 12, according to police in Union County, North Carolina.

The SUV was pulled over around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in Monroe, after the officer sensed something wasn’t quite right. Monroe is about a 25-mile drive southeast from uptown Charlotte.

“A Monroe police officer initiated a traffic stop ... after observing the driver showing suspicious behavior and realizing the vehicle was equipped with a fictitious license plate,” the police officials said in a Feb. 18 news release.

“During the course of the investigation, the officer determined the driver was a 12-year-old child. The child stated he missed his school bus and made the decision to drive himself to school.”

The traffic stop happened near the intersection of Seymour Street and North Charlotte Avenue, and the boy is a student at Monroe Middle School, police officials told The Charlotte Observer.

First bell at the school is at 7:53 a.m.

A School Resource Officer from Monroe Middle School was summoned to the scene and took the boy to school “without further incident,” officials said.

“As required by North Carolina law, a referral has been made to the Department of Social Services for follow-up. The Monroe Police Department is working with the family and community partners to ensure the juvenile’s safety and well-being,” police said.

“While this incident ended without injury, it serves as an important reminder to parents and guardians to secure vehicle keys and ensure children do not have access to vehicles without supervision. Allowing an unlicensed juvenile to operate a motor vehicle creates significant safety risks to the child and the public.”

This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 7:12 AM with the headline "Unusual traffic stop reveals driver is 12, and he’s late for school, NC cops say."