WILMINGTON — The cost of having your booted in Wilmington could be going up thanks to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
In 2014, the state’s highest court heard King v. Town of Chapel Hill, ruling that municipalities could not regulate the fees for nonconsensual towing in private lots. Th same year, Wilmington amended its regulations regarding towing fees; now, four years later, the city is addressing booting.
The City of Wilmington’s City Council is poised to approve an amendment to the city code that specifically regulates the fees a company can charge to remove an immobilization device, better known as a boot.
Previous regulations capped the removal fee for a boot at $50, now the law will only be applicable to vehicles booted in a public right of way, not in private lots.
Related: Predatory towing in Carolina Beach: What can be done and what protection do you have?
Signage is still required for any private lot utilizing boots and according to city code, the sign can be no smaller than 4-square-feet. Companies must provide their contact information and must be able to remove a boot from a vehicle at any time of the day. The booting company must be able to respond within one hour.
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