This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Towing
Ordinance of the City of Linwood."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ABANDONED
Automobiles, trucks or any other motor vehicles that are left unattended for a period of time which would represent a violation of Chapter
269, Vehicles, Unlicensed, of the City of Linwood and New Jersey state statutes.
CITY
The City of Linwood.
COMPOUND
An enclosed area suitable for the parking and storage of
automobiles, trucks and other motor vehicles.
DOLLY WHEELS
A portable device with wheels that is used in combination
with a tow truck to transport automobiles, trucks or motor vehicles.
ILLEGALLY PARKED
Any automobile, motor vehicle, truck or bus that is parked
in a fashion or in a place that is in violation of any parking ordinance
of the City of Linwood, County of Atlantic or State of New Jersey.
LICENSED TOWING OPERATOR
A towing operator that has complied with all provisions of
this chapter and whose name appears on the list of licensed towing
operators maintained by the Clerk of the City of Linwood.
MOTOR VEHICLE
All vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power,
except such vehicles as those that run exclusively on tracks. This
term shall also include motorcycles and mopeds.
OMNIBUS
All motor vehicles used for the transportation of passengers
for hire, including those used for the transportation of schoolchildren.
OPERATOR
Any person who is in actual physical control of an automobile,
truck or motor vehicle.
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Real property owned by any person, partnership, firm or corporation
and now owned by the City of Linwood or any other governmental body.
RESPONSE FEE
The monetary charge for the presence of a tow truck and operator
where no towing service or road service is conducted or supplied.
ROAD SERVICES
Providing routine minor maintenance items, refueling or supplying
equipment to automobiles, trucks or motor vehicles that are disabled
or otherwise inoperable, including calls to assist persons locked
out of their motor vehicles.
TOWING OPERATOR
A person, firm, corporation or other business entity engaged
in the business of transporting disabled, wrecked or otherwise immobile
motor vehicles, automobiles or trucks by means of tow trucks or other
means.
TOWING SERVICE AND/OR TOWING
The providing of transportation of automobiles, trucks or
motor vehicles that, as a result of accident, collision, breakdown,
abandonment or otherwise, are unable to be moved under their own power.
The term "towing service" also includes the transportation of illegally
parked, police-impounded or abandoned automobiles, trucks or motor
vehicles.
TOW TRUCK
A motor vehicle specifically designed, constructed, used
or maintained for the safe transportation of automobiles, trucks or
motor vehicles.
TRUCK
Every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily
for the transportation of property. This includes delivery vans and
pickup trucks.
VEHICLE
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported upon a highway, except devices powered by
human power or operated on stationary tracks.
WINCHING SERVICES
Providing the use of the mechanical cable device attached
to a tow truck to move or transport any vehicle where the actual towing
of the vehicle does not take place.
Towing operators licensed pursuant to this chapter agree to
provide the following towing services to the City of Linwood in the
following manner:
A. Towing of illegally parked or police-impounded passenger automobiles,
trucks or motor vehicles.
B. Towing of abandoned passenger automobiles, trucks and motor vehicles.
C. Towing of passenger automobiles, trucks and motor vehicles from accident
scenes, including cleaning and removal of debris from the scene of
the accident as well as any necessary waiting time. This shall also
include the removal of any spilled or leaking liquids. In the event
that minor spillages of motor vehicle fluids result from an accident,
the towing operator shall apply absorbent material to the affected
area and then place the material, double-bagged, in the vehicle prior
to towing.
D. Towing of all City police vehicles within the limits of Atlantic
County, as well as the City limits of the City of Linwood.
E. Towing of all City of Linwood owned police vehicles outside the Atlantic
County limits.
F. Providing winching services and dolly-wheel services at scenes of
accidents and/or other places where passenger automobiles, trucks
or motor vehicles become disabled on the roadway or off.
G. Providing a flatbed truck for vehicles that cannot be towed in an
ordinary fashion.
H. Towing and impounding for police investigation purposes of any passenger
automobile, truck or motor vehicle at the direction of the Duty Police
Supervisor.
I. Storage of any abandoned, wrecked or disabled passenger automobiles,
trucks or motor vehicles that might be towed by the towing operator
pursuant to this chapter.
J. Providing of road service to disabled vehicles within the City limits
of the City of Linwood.
K. Towing and impounding for police investigation purposes of any passenger
automobile, truck or motor vehicle at the direction of the Duty Police
Supervisor from City Hall to the compound at no charge.
The following rates shall apply for licensed towing operators
within the City of Linwood:
A. Towing of illegally parked or police-impounded passenger automobiles,
trucks and motor vehicles, to include storage for the first 24 hours:
(1) 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight: $75.
(2) 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.: $85.
B. Towing of abandoned passenger automobiles, trucks and motor vehicles,
to include storage for the first 24 hours:
(1) 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight: $75.
(2) 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.: $85.
C. Towing of passenger automobiles not in excess of 6,000 pounds from
accident scenes, to include cleaning and removal of area debris, including
liquid debris, pursuant to this chapter, waiting time and storage
for the first 24 hours:
(1) 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight: $75.
(2) 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.: $85.
D. Towing of trucks and all other motor vehicles, including passenger
automobiles in excess of 6,000 pounds, from accident scenes, to include
cleaning and removal of area debris, including liquid debris, pursuant
to this chapter, waiting time and storage for the first 24 hours:
(1) 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight: $105.
(2) 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.: $115.
E. Charge for each additional twenty-four-hour storage: $20.
F. No charge for towing of all City police vehicles within the City
of Linwood and the County of Atlantic.
G. Towing of all City-owned police vehicles outside the limits of Atlantic
County: $2 per mile.
H. Providing winching service: $30.
I. Additional charges for providing dolly wheels: $50.
J. Additional charges for providing flat bedding of vehicles that cannot
otherwise be towed in a normal fashion:
(1) 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight: $105.
(2) 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.: $115.
K. No charge for towing of any passenger automobiles, trucks or motor
vehicles or impounding of any such passenger automobiles, trucks or
motor vehicles for investigation purposes at the direction of the
Duty Police Supervisor (to include storage).
L. Response fee (no tow): $20.
M. Road service to disabled vehicles during normal business hours and
for nonbusiness hours (no tow):
(1) Normal hours (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.): $25.
(2) After hours (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.): $35.
N. Towing or transport of mopeds: $40.
O. Towing or transport of motorcycles:
(1) 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight: $50.
(2) 12:00 midnight to 7:00 a.m.: $60.
P. Road service to Linwood Police vehicles: $25.
Q. Specialized recovery equipment. When specialized and/or heavy-duty
equipment is needed as deemed appropriate by the officer on duty,
the fees shall be charged at the published rate of the New Jersey
State Police Training Guide.
[Added 5-22-2019 by Ord. No. 11-2019]