(a)        Acts. – A motor carrier who does any of the following is subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000):

(1)        Operates a for-hire motor vehicle in this State without registering its operations, as required by this Part.

(2)        Repealed by Session Laws 2007-492, s. 4, effective August 30, 2007.

(3)        Operates a for-hire motor vehicle in intrastate commerce in this State for which it has not verified it has insurance, as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-382.1

(b)        Payment and Review. – When the Department of Public Safety finds that a for-hire motor vehicle is operated in this State in violation of the registration and insurance verification requirements of this Part, the Department must place the motor vehicle out of service until the motor carrier is in compliance and the penalty imposed under this section is paid unless the officer that imposes the penalty determines that operation of the motor vehicle will not jeopardize collection of the penalty. A motor carrier that denies liability for a penalty imposed under this section may pay the penalty under protest and follow the procedure in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-178.1 for a departmental review of the penalty.

(c)        Judicial Restriction. – A court of this State may not issue a restraining order or an injunction to restrain or enjoin the collection of a penalty imposed under this section or to permit the operation of a vehicle placed out of service under this section without payment of the penalty.

(d)       Proceeds. – A penalty imposed under this section is payable to the Department of Transportation, Fiscal Section. The clear proceeds of all civil penalties assessed by the Department pursuant to this section, minus any fees paid as interest, filing fees, attorneys’ fees, or other necessary costs of court associated with the defense of penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-457.2 ?(1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 621, s. 3; 1997-466, s. 3; 2002-159, s. 31.5(b); 2002-190, ss. 2, 3; 2005-64, s. 1; 2007-492, s. 4; 2009-376, ss. 2(b), 14; 2011-145, s. 19.1(g).)