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

(a) Disposal Authorized. - Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1 of Chapter 44A of the General Statutes, a person who repairs, alters, treats, or improves personal property in the ordinary course of his business pursuant to an express or implied contract with an owner or legal possessor of the personal property may, upon compliance with the notice requirement of subsection (b), dispose of any personal property of a value of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or less, other than a motor vehicle, that has not been claimed by the owner or legal possessor for a period of sixty days or more after his receipt of written notice that the property is ready to be claimed.

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

(c) Liability. - A person who disposes of property in accordance with this section is not liable for damages to the owner of the property disposed of.

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