When I got my CCW, the officer/instructor told us to only pony up the card when we are carrying. Otherwise, not. He also told us that it was attached to our drivers license, as it has the license number printed on it. No mention of an attachment to the license plate. However, true or not, a Catawba County judge told a friend of mine some years ago that a citizen can carry a gun, loaded or not, in their vehicle as long as it is in no way "hidden or covered", to me that means openly on the passenger's seat or on the dash. Two years ago a state man pulled me, I had a loaded pistol on a small shelf on the dash-out of view to the public, but open to him. I informed him as soon as he walked up and greeted me. He didn't get nervous, said that is fine. Last year I went thru a road check and was on my way home from my hunting club-had deer corn and other hunting stuff in the truck. Gun was lying on top of my folded coat on the seat in plain view. Officer only asked it's "loaded status". I told him I had it, and he said he had already seen it. So, I produced the CCW. All was well. I'm in North Carolina, also.