NC H446

Law enforcement agencies are prohibited from knowingly disclosing pretrial booking photographs to "publish-for-pay" websites or publications that charge fees to remove mugshots, though agencies may still post photos on their own websites and apps

Publish-for-pay websites must remove and destroy booking photographs within 7 business days of receiving a request, provided there was no conviction and the requester submits documentation of dismissal, acquittal, expunction, or grand jury returning no true bill

Conditioning the removal or destruction of a booking photograph on payment of any fee or item of value may constitute a criminal offense

Civil liability for non-compliant publish-for-pay sites includes minimum damages of $100 per day the photo remains visible after the 7-day deadline, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees

Effective December 1, 2025, applying to disclosures, removal requests, and violations occurring on or after that date