AN ACT repealing the prohibition on criminal penalties for violating city ordinances regulating taxis and providing that repeat violators of city ordinances may be held responsible AND subject to a fine.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 160A‑175 reads as rewritten:

§ 160A‑175.  Enforcement of ordinances.

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(b1)      No ordinance of the following types may impose a criminal penalty:

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(7)        Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑304, Regulation of taxis.

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SECTION 2.  G.S. 14‑4 reads as rewritten:

§ 14‑4.  Violation of local ordinances misdemeanor.

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(c)        A person may not be found responsible or guilty of a local ordinance violation punishable pursuant to subsection (a) of this section if, when tried for that violation, the person produces proof of compliance with the local ordinance through any of the following:

(1)        No new alleged violations of the local ordinance within 30 days from the date of the initial alleged violation. However, if there was an alleged violation of the local ordinance within the 12 months preceding the new alleged violations, a person may be found responsible or guilty of a local ordinance violation punishable pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

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SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.