GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

S                                                                                                                                                    3

SENATE BILL 345

Judiciary II Committee Substitute Adopted 4/21/15

Finance Committee Substitute Adopted 4/28/15

Short Title:        Limit Storage Duration for Damaged Vehicle.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

March 23, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to limit the amount of time a motor vehicle can be impounded after a collision.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 20‑166.3.  Limit storage duration for vehicle damaged as a result of a collision.

(a) Limited Duration of Storage. – A motor vehicle that is towed and stored at the direction of a law enforcement agency following a collision may be held for evidence for not more than 20 days without a court order. Absent a court order, the vehicle must be released to the vehicle owner, insurer, or lien holder upon payment of the towing and storage fees.

(b) Application. – This section shall not apply to a motor vehicle (i) seized as a result of a violation of law or (ii) abandoned by the owner."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2015, and applies to motor vehicles impounded on or after that date.