§ 66-67.1. Disposal by repair businesses of certain unclaimed property.

§66‑67.1.  Disposal by repair businesses of certain unclaimed property.

(a)        DisposalAuthorized. – Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 44A of theGeneral Statutes, a person who repairs, alters, treats, or improves personalproperty in the ordinary course of his business pursuant to an express orimplied contract with an owner or legal possessor of the personal property may,upon compliance with the notice requirement of subsection (b), dispose of anypersonal property of a value of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or less, otherthan a motor vehicle, that has not been claimed by the owner or legal possessorfor a period of sixty days or more after his receipt of written notice that theproperty is ready to be claimed.

(b)        Notice Requirement.– The repair business shall, at the time the property is surrendered, have awritten notice of dimensions of not less than eight and one‑half byeleven inches prominently displayed in a conspicuous place in the office orshop where the property was surrendered containing the following message: "NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR GOODS LEFT ON HAND FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS".  Whenthe property has been repaired or otherwise processed, the repair businessshall notify the owner or legal possessor of the property, by certified mailwith return receipt requested, that the property is ready to be claimed.

(c)        Liability. – Aperson who disposes of property in accordance with this section is not liablefor damages to the owner of the property disposed of.

(d)        Definitions. – Asused in this section, the terms "legal possessor" and"owner" have the meanings provided in G.S. 44A‑1. (1987,c. 386.)