GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE BILL 439
     

 
Short Title:	Charlotte-Parking Ordinances.	()	
Sponsors:	Senators Dannelly;  Ballance, Clodfelter, Dalton, Lucas, and Odom.	
Referred to:	State and Local Government.	
March 13, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE TO ADOPT AND ENFORCE ORDINANCES RELATING TO PARKING.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article II of Chapter 6 of the Charter of the City of Charlotte, as enacted in S.L. 2000‑26, is amended by rewriting Section 6.11 to read:
"Section 6.11. Parking Regulations and Violations. (a)	The 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 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 any related parking tickets and penalties are paid in full, or a bond is posted in the amount of the towing fee and any related parking tickets and penalties. Payment of the towing fee and any related parking tickets and penalties or posting of a bond shall not constitute a waiver of a person's right to contest the towing or any related parking tickets and penalties.
(c)	The 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 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)	Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 20‑37.6(f) and G.S. 20‑176, a violation of any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall not be an infraction or a misdemeanor.
(f)	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.  Section 6.12 of Article II of the Charter of the City of Charlotte, as enacted in S.L. 2000‑26, is repealed.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.