IMPROPER TOWING FROM AND IMMOBILIZATION WITHIN PRIVATE PARKING LOTS.
Raleigh City Code § 12-7015
in effectSec. 12-7015. - IMPROPER TOWING FROM AND IMMOBILIZATION WITHIN PRIVATE PARKING LOTS.
(a) It is an offense of this ordinance to tow a motor vehicle from a parking space in a private parking lot unless the space and lot are clearly designated as such with signs no smaller than twenty-four (24) inches by twenty-four (24) inches prominently displayed at all entrances thereto, displaying the current name and current phone number of the towing service and storage facility, and, if individually owned or leased, the parking lot or spaces within the lot are clearly marked by signs of setting forth the name of each individual lessee or owner, as mandated by G.S. 20-219.2. It is a further offense of this ordinance to place an immobilization device on a motor vehicle parked in a parking space in a private parking lot unless the space and lot are clearly designated as such with signs no smaller than twenty-four (24) inches by twenty-four (24) inches prominently displayed at all entrances thereto, displaying the current name and current phone number of the towing service and storage facility, and, if individually owned or leased, the parking lot or spaces within the lot are clearly marked by signs of setting forth the name of each individual lessee or owner. The civil penalties for an offense of this section are as prescribed in subsection (f).
(b) Any towing service or storage facility engaged in the business of providing non-consensual towing or immobilization services shall accept payment by cash, debit card or a major national credit card. The towing service or storage facility shall provide a receipt of payment to the owner or operator of the motor vehicle. Failure to accept credit or debit cards for payment is a violation of this section and is punishable as a misdemeanor.
(c) The operator of any tow truck immobilizing or removing a private vehicle at the request of any person, other than a police officer on duty shall report to the Raleigh Police Department the fact that the vehicle was immobilized, or if removed, that it was towed. If the motor vehicle was towed, the operator shall provide the motor vehicle's present storage space, together with a description of the vehicle and the tag number. The report shall be made by telephonic communication within one (1) hour after the vehicle is immobilized or deposited at the storage site. Any person, operating an immobilization service or towing service, or storage facility within the City shall maintain an attendant on call twenty-four (24) hours every day capable of acknowledging requests for vehicle release within fifteen (15) minutes of receiving a call and of releasing the vehicle within forty-five (45) minutes of receiving the call. The attendant shall be clothed with the authority to release any vehicle upon the legal conditions of release being fulfilled. Lighting in the lot shall be provided at a minimum average maintained footcandle value of two (2) at the surface level. Vehicles towed shall be secured in a fenced storage lot in a location that is accessible by public transportation, in such a manner as to keep the vehicles safe from harm, and within fifteen (15) miles of the location from which the vehicle was towed if the storage lot is located within the City or within ten (10) miles of the location from which the vehicle was towed if the storage lot is located outside of the City. All tow trucks performing non-consensual tows shall display the name and telephone number of the towing company on each side of the tow truck.
(d) The operator of any tow truck summoned to tow away any vehicle in a non-consensual towing shall not tow the vehicle away and shall release the vehicle if the operator of the vehicle returns prior to the tow truck having left the location to which it was summoned. The tow truck operator shall permit the owner of a towed vehicle to remove personal property from a vehicle in the custody of the tow truck operator. If the tow truck operator has removed personal property from the vehicle it shall be returned to the owner of the property upon request made to the tow truck operator. The operator is not prohibited from charging a fee to release the vehicle, but if a fee is required, the operator shall provide a receipt of payment to the owner or operator of the motor vehicle. Failure to accept credit or debit cards for payment is a violation of this section.
(e) No towing service shall remove a motor vehicle from a private parking lot on a weekday from the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. unless the owner or agent of the private parking lot signs a contemporaneous specific written authorization for such removal which is presented to the wrecker driver of the towing service The agent must be someone other than an employee of the towing service. The written authorization shall contain the reason for the tow, the vehicle make, model, year, color, vehicle identification number (VIN) and license plate number. Following a tow under this subsection, the towing service shall follow the same notification procedures required under subsection (c) of this section.
(f) Violations of this section shall carry civil penalties as follow:
First violation .....$200.00
Second violation within a two-year period of the first violation .....$300.00
Third violation within a two-year period of the first violation .....$400.00
Fourth violation within a two-year period of the first violation .....$750.00
Fifth violation within a two-year period of the first violation .....$1,000.00
(Ord. No. 2002-350, § 1, 12-18-02; Ord. No. 2004-736, §§2—4, 11-16-04; Ord. No. 2008-469, §1, 10-7-08; Ord. No. 2021-272, §2, 9-7-21; Ord. No. 2022-332, §1, 2-1-22; Ord. No. 2022-340, §6, 2-15-22)
Source: City of Raleigh, North Carolina, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/raleigh/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=DIVIICOGEOR_PT12LIRE_CH7REDIABNUMOVE_S12-7015IMTOIMWIPRPALOFetched: 11/1/2026