GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2003

SESSION LAW 2003-130

HOUSE BILL 351

AN ACT to authorize the city of salisbury to adopt and enforce ordinances relating to parking.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 2 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the City of Salisbury, as revised and consolidated by S.L. 1987-205, is amended by adding the following new section:

"Sec. 7.4.  Parking Regulations and Violations.

(a)       The City Council may provide by ordinance that each hour a vehicle remains illegally parked in an on-street parking space is a separate offense, and the violator may be given a ticket for each offense.

(b)       The City Council may provide by ordinance that any vehicle that has been towed for a parking violation is to be held until the towing fee and penalties related to all outstanding parking tickets and parking penalties owed to the City are paid in full, or a bond is posted in the amount of the towing fee and all outstanding parking tickets and parking penalties. Payment of the towing fee and all outstanding parking tickets and parking penalties shall not constitute a waiver of a person's right to contest the towing or the outstanding parking tickets and parking penalties.

(c)       The City Council may provide by ordinance for the use of wheel locks on illegally parked vehicles for which there are three or more outstanding, unpaid, and overdue parking tickets for a period of 90 days. The ordinance shall provide for notice or warning to be affixed to the vehicle, immobilization, towing, impoundment, appeal hearing, an immobilization fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), and charges for towing and storage. The City shall not be responsible for any damage to an immobilized illegally parked vehicle resulting from unauthorized attempts to free or move that vehicle.

(d)       Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes or any other public or private local laws to the contrary, the City Council may adopt ordinances:

(1)       Prohibiting parking or standing of a vehicle in a space designated with a sign for handicapped persons when the vehicle does not display the distinguishing registration plate, windshield placard, or disabled veteran registration plate and that prohibit parking or standing of a vehicle so as to obstruct a curb ramp or curb cut, as provided in G.S. 20-37.6(e).

(2)       Prohibiting parking or standing of a vehicle in front of or within a specified distance in either direction of a fire hydrant or the driveway entrance to any fire station, or in any area designated as a fire lane.

(3)       Prohibiting parking or standing of a vehicle in front of or within a specified distance from a public or private driveway.

(4)       Prohibiting parking or standing of a vehicle within a specified distance from an intersection or crosswalk.

(e)       Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section may be enforced by law enforcement officers and any person or persons authorized by ordinance, by the city manager, or by the chief of police, whether or not the vehicle is parked on public or private property."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3^rd day of June, 2003.

                                                                    s/ Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/ James B. Black

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives