I'm in wake forest, north Carolina. I have at least 15 of these spiders with black bands on their legs, tan backs with black spots on them, and a big black mark on their undersides. I see them mostly at night. They have webs in the corners of my apartment building outside.
These are orb weaving spiders; there appear to be at least two different genera - Araneus and Larinioides - all are harmless to humans.
Thanks!
