Towing Issues: storage fees, storage yards, storage rates

Question
My car was impounded but not seized so I'm able to get it back. The issue is who towed it said that there was a fee of $35 a day.It is in a open uncovered area with no protection. A friend of mine said that unless its stored inside they can't charge me $35 a day since it is outside, but could charge me atleast $8 a day. Is this true? Can you tell me the laws for N.C..Thank you.
                            Kelli

Answer
Well first I want to say that North Carolina is currently rewriting the rules and regulations regarding towing from both private property and as ordered by law enforcement agencies.


I have been watching the information (from here in Alabama) and I have seen the same proposed laws, thrown out, or revised or being passed intact.

I have seen all kinds of numbers and some of the "proposed rates and charges" where equal to what towers were charging back in the early 1980's.

Most of those have been removed or revised.

So I can not really provide the correct rules and regulations at this time.

YES I did see some proposed storage rates of $8.00 or so a day, which I believe have been updates, but I am not totally sure what the numbers are.
(Its hard to keep up on the rules all the time from a distance on the Internet, as currently, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas are among the states doing total makeovers of the rules).

Now as to "OPEN, UNCOVERED" areas for storage. I am taking it as you mean a "FENCED PIECE OF PROPERTY WHICH HAS NO ROOF ON IT"

Many storage yards are just like that, not every location can have every vehicle stored inside a building or under a canopy. Now if it is just out in the open, and anyone can walk up and mess around with the vehicles, well that would be a whole other issue here.

By the way, $35.00 a day for storage is not real bad, as we are $37.50 a day here where I work in Alabama, and I have seen and heard of rates up to $75.00 a day in New York and California. So I would say that the $35.00 is about average.

Now as to the laws for North Carolina, like I said they are revising them currently, and I do not have any "CURRENT LAWS" saved as favorites right now from there.  (Not sure where they went as I did have them)

But when the vehicle is "impounded or seized" at times the rules and prices are subject to any contract the tow company has with the law enforcement agency which ordered the vehicle towed.


Sorry for the lack of information but its the best I can do.
If you want to read it, you can check out the link below and read the filed bill and then the changes - editions.

http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2009%20%20&BillI...