§ 20-219.3. Removal of unauthorized vehicles from gasoline service station premises. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 20‑219.3.  Removal ofunauthorized vehicles from gasoline service station premises.

(a)        No motor vehicleshall be left for more than 48 hours upon the premises of any gasoline servicestation without the consent of the owner or operator of the service station.

(b)        The registeredowner of any motor vehicle left unattended upon the premises of a servicestation in violation of subsection (a) shall be given notice by the owner oroperator of said station of said violation. The notice given shall be by certifiedmail return receipt requested addressed to the registered owner of the motorvehicle.

(c)        Upon the expirationof 10 days from the return of the receipt showing that the notice was receivedby the addressee, such vehicle left on the premises of a service station inviolation of this section may be removed from the station premises to a placeof storage and the registered owner of such vehicle shall become liable for thereasonable removal and storage charges and the vehicle subject to the storagelien created by G.S. 44A‑1 et seq.  Any person who removes avehicle pursuant to this section shall not be held liable for damages for theremoval of the vehicle to the owner, lienholder or other person legallyentitled to the possession of the vehicle removed; however, any person whointentionally or negligently damages a vehicle in the removal of such vehicle,or intentionally or negligently inflicts injury upon any person in the removalof such vehicle, may be held liable for damages.

(d)        In the alternative,the station owner or operator may charge for storage, assert a lien, anddispose of the vehicle under the terms of G.S. 44A‑4(b) through (g). Theproceeds from the sale of the vehicle shall be disbursed as provided in G.S.44A‑5. (1971, c. 1220; 1973, c. 1330, s. 36; 1989, c. 644, s.2.)