House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
No longer requires consensual towing businesses to obtain a permit from the Towing and Recovery Commission (Commission) under GS 20-219.50. Makes conforming changes to definitions provision of Article 7C in GS Chapter 20. Expands the itemized charges that the Commission must list under its standard form used by nonconsensual towing businesses to itemize charges required by GS 20-219.40 to include charges billed for handling of personal property. Increases the membership of the Commission from nine to eleven members, to also include one representative of the Carolina Independent Dealers Association appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Speaker of the House and one representative of the National Automobile Dealers Association appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Makes a technical change. Removes information about booted vehicles from the nonconsensual towing database required under GS 20-219.55. Now requires that a nonconsensual towing business input the name of the property owner or their designated representative with whom the business has a contractual relationship, in addition to other information that must be input into the database established under GS 20-219.55 (was, business just had to disclose whether it had a contractual relationship with the property owner or designated representative where the vehicle was towed from). Now requires the property owner of a parking lot where parking prohibitions apply to ensure the described signage under GS 20-219.60 is prominently displayed (was, property owners had to prominently display the described signage). Specifies that the signage must provide information about the companies the owner has contracted with (was, companies that the owner will use) to tow or boot unauthorized vehicles. Expands the signage requirements to include a warning that damage caused to towing or booting equipment as a result of attempting to remove or removing such equipment is punishable under GS 14-160. Makes conforming changes.
Prevents a nonconsensual towing business from booting, towing or attempting to do either to any vehicle on private property without a written contract with the property owner or their designee to perform nonconsensual towing or booting on the property, in GS 20-219.65. Expands the prohibition on towing or booting occupied vehicles to include instances where the nonconsensual towing business employee has reason to know the vehicle is occupied. Adds the business’s telephone number and hours of operation to the notice required to be affixed to a vehicle after it is booted by a nonconsensual towing business. Makes conforming changes to the statute's title. Authorizes a nonconsensual towing business to choose to accept any other form of commercially acceptable payment, in addition to those listed in GS 219.70. Makes technical changes.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 20-219.20
Edition 1: 20-219.20
Edition 2: 20-219.20