AN ACT to enact the commercial vehicle and cargo protection act.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 7 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 20‑219.3A.  Commercial booting.

A commercial motor vehicle shall not be immobilized using a device such as a boot or any other device for the purposes of parking enforcement. Using an immobilization device on a commercial vehicle in violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

SECTION 2.  Article 7A of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 20‑219.15.  Return of commercial cargo.

Notwithstanding G.S. 20‑219.10(a) to the contrary, a tower of a nonconsensual tow or tow pursuant to the direction of a law enforcement officer shall promptly return any commercial cargo towed by the tower to the owner of the commercial cargo, or to a designee of the owner, upon request. In the case of a trailer containing commercial cargo, the tower shall allow the trailer containing the commercial cargo to be exchanged with a trailer of similar type that is in working condition and was manufactured within five years of the manufacturing date of the original trailer, or newer, as arranged by the commercial cargo owner.

SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.