All social gatherings have their dos and don’ts.

At dinner parties you aren’t supposed to talk with your mouth full. Neither are you supposed to go through your host’s medicine cabinet.

The same can be said for cruise nights and car shows, which, like other social gatherings, have their own set of dos and don’ts.

One of the first things to remember at a cruise night or car show is this rule: If it isn’t yours, don’t touch it without permission.

Owners of the vehicles on display have spent untold hours and large sums of money to get their vehicles to look as perfect as they can. Rings, bracelets, watches and other jewelry can and will scratch paint. Even a dirty hand run across a vehicle can scratch paint; if nothing else, it will leave fingerprints.

The same can be said for belt buckles, zippers and even buttons on a shirt. They can cause harm to a paint job.

Another rule: No eating or drinking near the vehicles. Soft drinks and other beverages spilled onto paint aren’t a good thing, especially on a hot summer day.

Neither are mustard, ketchup or the like. Carpet and interior surfaces soiled with liquids or food could be an expensive item to replace, and at the very least require many hours of work to properly clean.

Smoking is not only hazardous to your health, but it can be fatal to a paint job or interior. Hot ashes on a paint job can burn the paint in a matter of a few short seconds. Hot ashes on carpeting or interior surface will not only burn a hole in the surface, but if unnoticed the hot ashes could easily result in a fire.

Children should be included at cruise nights and car shows, as both are family events. However, a close eye is necessary to ensure that no harm comes to them. And that they do not harm someone’s vehicle.

Pets are best left at home. An excited dog could easily cause great damage to a vehicle.

Something you should do at a cruise night or car show is ask questions. Most owners of vehicles love the opportunity to talk about their pride and joy.