North Carolina law that bans boots for commercial vehicles now in effect

A law that went into effect in North Carolina this week forbids the use of immobilizing devices such as boots on commercial vehicles in order to protect truckers from predatory towing practices.

Effective December 1, 2025, the Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Protection Act went into effect in North Carolina.

The new law makes it a Class 2 misdemeanor crime to use a boot or other immobilization device on a commercial vehicle.

A Class 2 misdemeanor in North Carolina is punishable by 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Protection Act also requires the prompt return of any commercial cargo to the owner following a nonconsensual tow or a government-initiated tow.

Nonconsensual booting and towing has been a hot-button issue in North Carolina over the past several years, with Attorney General Josh Stein filing lawsuits against predatory towers that target trucks.

Several other states have recently passed similar legislation to crack down on predatory tow companies, including Mississippi, Florida, and Tennessee.