[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Wharton 12-27-2016 by Ord. No.
O-22-16. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any vehicle partially dismantled, not readily capable of
operation under its own power, not currently used for transportation,
not currently licensed, wrecked, or junked. Also, any vehicle whose
owner has terminated the use and care of the vehicle and has either
indicated by his words or actions an intent to leave it and no longer
claim ownership of it or left it without making arrangements for storage
with the owner, occupant or person in control of the premises on which
it is located.
Fee to be charged when the services provided are needed as
a result of a motor vehicle accident. The administrative fee represents
compensation to the tow operator for paperwork and phone calls with
insurance companies and others in connection with the motor vehicle
accident. The administrative fee is in addition to the basic towing
service and any other associated fees.
The removal and transportation of a vehicle from a highway,
street or other public or private road, or a parking area or from
a storage facility, and other services normally incident thereto,
including tarping. Basic towing service does not include consent tows,
road services, or winching.
The towing of a vehicle from the scene to anywhere other
than the operator's garage or towing a vehicle from the operator's
garage to a third location. Consent tows are outside the terms of
this chapter. The fees for consent tows are to be determined by the
operator and do not have to comply with the fees set forth herein.
The cleanup of debris at the point of impact, the final resting
point of the vehicle and the associated debris field. Debris cleanup
includes the use of absorbents to soak up spills or vehicle fluids
as permitted by law.
Provision of basic towing services for a vehicle that weighs
26,000 pounds or more.
Provision of basic towing services for a vehicle that weighs
up to 10,000 pounds.
Provision of basic towing services for a vehicle that weighs
10,001 pounds to 25,999 pounds.
A towing company that has been approved by the Borough Administrator
and placed on the rotational list by the Chief of Police.
When an operator responds to a service call and makes repairs
to a passenger vehicle on site without towing said vehicle back to
the service garage. Repairs may include, but are not limited to, such
activities as repairing flat tires, providing a jump start, and/or
opening a locked vehicle.
This vehicle shall be classified no lighter than 14,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight.
A facility that is inside a locked building or outside in
a completely enclosed area with at least a six-foot fence, with at
least one entrance and exit gate and is completely illuminated to
safeguard the motor vehicles.
Equipment needed for recovery of a vehicle that is not identified
in this chapter.
The maximum allowable amount to be charged by an operator
for a twenty-four-hour period, or fraction thereof, for passenger
vehicles. A new twenty-four-hour period begins at 12:01 a.m. Storage
is charged per calendar day or any part thereof.
Covering a motor vehicle to prevent weather damage.
Schedule prepared by the Chief of Police of towing operators
that were approved by the Borough Administrator, to be called by the
Police Department for vehicle assistance.
When the owner and/or insurance representative must be accompanied
into the secured storage facility to inspect, remove personal belongings,
adjust and/or take photographs or for removal of vehicle from the
storage facility for pickup.
The process of moving a motor vehicle by the use of chains,
nylon slings or additional lengths of which cable from a position
that is not accessible for direct hookup for towing a motor vehicle.
Winching also includes recovering a motor vehicle that is not on the
road and righting a motor vehicle that is on its side or upside down,
but does not include pulling a motor vehicle onto a flatbed tow truck.
A.
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to provide criteria and
standard operating procedures that are reasonable, nonexclusionary
and nondiscriminatory in the selection and use of towing operators,
on a rotational basis, in providing towing, road services and the
storage of vehicles, including, but not limited to, the towing of
vehicles that are abandoned, disabled, illegally parked or stolen,
vehicles involved in accidents and/or those vehicles suspected or
identified by the Borough as being involved in criminal activity.
B.
The Borough Administrator and the Chief of Police are hereby designated
to administer and enforce all provisions of this chapter.
It shall be the responsibility of the Borough Administrator
or his designee, with the advice of the Chief of Police, to approve
all applications for towing operators, to be utilized on a rotational
basis for the purpose of providing emergency towing, road and storage
services to the owners of motor vehicles utilizing Borough roads when
he determines that the following requirements have been met by the
applicant. On forms prepared by the Borough, and provided by the Borough
Administrator or his designee, all towing operators shall submit written
documentation that they are in compliance with the qualification requirements
set forth in this chapter and as specifically listed below:
A.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of a certificate of insurance in accordance with the requirements set forth in § 287-8 below.
B.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of a Disclosure of Investment
Activities in Iran form to be provided by the Borough.
C.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of the appropriate affirmative
action evidence as required by N.J.S.A. 10:5-31 et seq., and N.J.A.C.
17:27.
D.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of a valid business registration
certificate issued to them by the State of New Jersey pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 52:32-44.
E.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of the names and contact
information for at least four business references.
F.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of the names, addresses and
driver's license numbers of all proposed drivers and employees
who will be rendering services known at the time of the application.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of certified copies by the
business owner of current MVC abstracts for the last five years and
a criminal name check for all operators, officers and employees. Neither
the MVC abstracts nor the criminal name check can be older than 30
days from the date of the application. In order to keep information
current, all operators will be required to submit updated rosters
of drivers, within a reasonable period not to exceed 30 calendar days
of a new hire, to the Chief of Police along with the necessary MVC
abstracts for the last five years and a criminal name check for all
new drivers.
G.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of a detailed listing of
all equipment to be used while performing services under this chapter.
The listing shall include the type of vehicle, the storage location
of vehicles and whether the vehicle is owned or leased.
H.
All operators shall submit to the Borough Administrator a list of
the lifting capacities of the devices for types of vehicles.
I.
Submission to the Borough Administrator of the size, location and
security features of a secured storage area for all vehicles towed
by the operator.
A.
Following the approval of applications by the Borough Administrator,
it shall be the Chief of Police's responsibility to establish
a towing operators rotational list. The Police Department shall call
the operators in sequential order as set forth by the Chief so that
each operator will be given the opportunity to respond to individual
calls as received by the Borough. The Police Department shall have
the right to call the next operator on the list should an operator
fail to respond to a call within 20 minutes during the day and 30
minutes at night or if the first operator called cannot be reached
by telephone or advises that he is unable to respond. The final decision
on the operator called shall be within the discretion of the shift
commander based on individual emergent need such as vehicle location,
traffic, volume of police calls for assistance and proximity of the
operator to the vehicle location.
B.
The Chief shall maintain due vigilance over all operators to make
certain that the tow trucks and other related vehicles and equipment
are maintained in a safe working condition for transporting and hauling
disabled vehicles. The Chief or his duly designated representative
shall have the right, at all times, to inspect all towing vehicles
and related equipment which perform services pursuant to this chapter.
A.
Nontransferable. Operators shall not assign, transfer, convey, sublet
or otherwise dispose of the contract, or any part thereof, to anyone
other than another tower on the Borough's rotational list, without
the prior written consent of the Borough.
B.
Compliance with applicable laws. Operators shall comply with all
New Jersey State and federal laws as they pertain to the performance
under this chapter.
(1)
Operators shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination
on the basis of disability by public entities in all services, programs,
and activities provided or made available by public entities.
C.
Performance and drivers. Each operator must be able to demonstrate
to the satisfaction of the Borough that the operator is thoroughly
qualified and experienced in the towing and removal of vehicles of
all types, and that he/she has the facilities, equipment, expertise,
licensing, personnel and storage areas to perform the services required
by this chapter in a manner satisfactory to the Borough.
(1)
The Borough reserves the right to disqualify from consideration any
application by an operator who was declared in default on a previous
contract with the Borough.
(2)
All operators shall employ a sufficient number of employees to comply
with the operator's and Borough's minimum operational requirements.
(3)
No person shall be employed by an operator for work for the Borough
under this chapter unless approved by the Chief of Police subsequent
to a driver history and criminal background check.
(4)
All drivers of all operators shall be over the age of 18 years and
must have a valid, current driver's license and CDL where required.
(5)
All employees of the operator shall wear uniform clothing with a
clear designation (patch or stitching) indicating the employee's
first name and a clear designation of the name of the operator company.
(6)
The service, equipment, and personnel of all operators will be subject
to periodic inspections and approval by the Borough.
(7)
The operator on call pursuant to the list shall be responsible for
towing of vehicles on a twenty-four-hour basis, seven days a week.
(8)
The operator shall respond promptly to all requests for towing service by the Borough. The operator shall respond and be present at the towing location within 20 minutes of receipt of notice of towing, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and within 30 minutes between 4:31 p.m. and 7:59 a.m., unless heavy or unusual traffic conditions within or outside the Borough prevent the operator from arriving within the above time periods. In that event, the operator shall arrive in a reasonable time given allowance for said traffic conditions. Failure to arrive promptly as provided herein may subject the operator to suspension or removal from the list pursuant to § 287-10.
(9)
As part of the basic towing service, the operator shall remove and
tow to the storage facility all vehicles described by the Borough
of Wharton Police Department which include, but are not limited to,
abandoned, illegally parked, disabled, involved in accidents, suspected
of involvement in criminal activity, or otherwise confiscated. The
decision on when a vehicle is abandoned, illegally parked, disabled,
involved in an accident or suspected of involvement in criminal activity
shall be made by the Borough of Wharton Police Department, and the
operator shall have no responsibility for the decision.
D.
Records of inspections. All operators shall record all vehicles towed
on billing forms as soon as possible after each vehicle is towed.
All personal property shall remain in the vehicle.
E.
Rights of owners. The owner of any vehicle towed shall have the right
to remove property belonging to him from the stored vehicle unless
a police hold is marked on the towing form and/or vehicle.
(1)
A vehicle owner or his representative shall have the right to take
photographs of stored vehicles for insurance purposes.
(2)
Complaints of any kind, relative to service, overcharging, theft
of parts, damage to towed or stored vehicles, discourteous treatment,
and the like, shall be referred to the Chief of Police for investigation.
(3)
The Borough's on-call operator must be used for towing services
unless, at the discretion of the police officer on scene, the vehicle(s)
to be towed are not blocking the roadway or otherwise causing a public
hazard. In which case, a vehicle owner may summon a towing operator
other than the on-call operator to tow, store, or otherwise provide
services to the vehicle owner. Said service will be provided at no
cost whatsoever to the Borough. The servicing tower is not subject
to the rates specified by virtue of this chapter. In the interest
of public safety, customer requests for a specific towing vendor shall
not be honored at crash and recovery scenes.
F.
Emergency services. In addition to the service herein outlined, all
operators are required to be on call and available to provide services
to the Borough during storm events, periods of snow emergencies, traffic
emergencies, disasters, and any acts of God, and for any other reason
when so designated by the Borough Administrator and/or the Chief of
Police or their duly authorized representatives.
(1)
Emergency service will begin when the Chief of Police or his authorized
designee notifies the operators that all operators must be on call
due to an emergency and shall end when he terminates the emergency
status by calling the operators.
(2)
The operator may, during the emergency, designate temporary areas
owned or leased by him or subcontractors, with the approval of the
Chief of Police or his representative, for the storage of disabled
vehicles in said area. During said emergencies, the operator shall
be entitled to charge the rates included in this chapter to the owners
of the vehicles so removed.
G.
Dealing with the public. In all of his/her dealings with the public in connection with the contract, the operator is expected to act in a professional manner and at all times to be courteous and respectful toward members of the public as well as representatives of the Borough of Wharton. While members of the public, especially those whose cars may have been towed or impounded, may at times resort to strong language, threats, and unbecoming behavior toward the operator, the operator is expected to exercise restraint and not to respond in kind. Repeated reports to the Borough of Wharton Police Department of discourteous behavior by the operator, which can be substantiated and documented, may be considered by the Borough as sufficient cause for suspension or removal from the list pursuant to § 287-10 below.
A.
All leased and rented equipment must be permanently located at the
operator's lot at all times.
B.
Each piece of equipment must meet the minimum standards set forth
herein. Equipment that cannot meet these minimum standards shall not
be used to perform services under this chapter.
C.
The operator is solely responsible for the safety, maintenance and
operation of each piece of equipment used to perform services under
this chapter.
D.
All operators shall provide a minimum of four vehicles to comply
with the terms of this chapter, at least one of which must be a hydraulic
truck, and at least two must be flatbed trucks.
E.
All tow vehicles shall be equipped with the following, at a minimum:
(1)
Two-way radios or cell phones.
(2)
Chains to secure vehicles to the flatbed.
(3)
Equipment necessary to tow motorcycles.
(4)
Wheel lifts with safety straps to prevent damage to the towed vehicles.
(5)
Steering locks for towing vehicles from the rear.
(6)
Absorbent materials utilized to absorb liquid spills which, if left
on the roadways, could create hazardous conditions.
(7)
Broom and shovel.
(8)
Snatch blocks.
(9)
Lockout tools.
(10)
Equipment to jump-start a vehicle.
A.
Each operator shall maintain a principal place of business operation
and a secured storage facility within five miles of the Borough of
Wharton.
B.
Towed vehicles may not be stored upon a public street or alley; they
must be stored by the operator within the secured storage facility.
C.
The operator shall be responsible for each vehicle in its storage
area until final disposition and removal as ordered by the Borough.
All vehicles, regardless of condition, must be stored singly and so
arranged to permit inspection and subsequent removal when the vehicle
is retrieved, sold or otherwise removed. Adequate walkway inspection
space must be provided at all times.
D.
The operator must provide a secured storage facility (inside and/or
outside).
A.
Submission of certificate of insurance. All towing operators shall
submit a certificate of insurance to the Borough Administrator, which
certificate shall name the Borough as an additional insured. The certificate
shall provide evidence that the towing operator carries the following
insurance coverages:
B.
The towing operators agree that to the fullest extent permitted by
law, they shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Borough from
and against any and all claims, suits, judgments and demands whatsoever,
including, without limitation, cost, litigation expenses, counsel
fees and liabilities, with respect to injury to or death of any person
or persons whatsoever, or damage to property of any kind by whomever
owned, arising out of or caused or claimed to have been caused in
whole or in part by the negligent acts or omissions of the towing
operators or any other person directly or indirectly employed by the
towing operators while in the performance of rendering any services
pursuant to the scope of this chapter.
A.
The following fees to be paid by the motor vehicle owner directly
to the operator represent the maximum fees permitted under this chapter.
It shall be unlawful for any operator to charge a fee in excess of
the fees prescribed in this section for the services regulated therein.
For all fees that are hourly rates, there is a one-hour minimum and
beyond the first one hour, the fee will be assessed in thirty-minute
increments.
(1)
Additional labor (as needed), per person: $95 per hour.
(2)
Administrative fee: flat fee of $35.
(3)
After-hours vehicle release fee: flat fee of $45.
(4)
Basic towing service by a light-duty wrecker: flat fee of $135.
(5)
Basic towing service by a medium-duty wrecker: flat fee of $250.
(6)
Basic towing service by a heavy-duty wrecker: flat fee of $450.
(7)
Debris cleanup: flat fee of $75.
(8)
Light-duty road service charge: $85 per hour.
(9)
Storage rate: $35 per day for passenger vehicles.
(10)
Vehicle access charge: flat fee of $50.
(11)
Winching charge by a light-duty wrecker: $175 per hour.
(12)
Winching charge by a medium-duty wrecker: $275 per hour.
(13)
Winching charge by a heavy-duty wrecker: $500 per hour.
B.
The rates applied to towing services performed under this chapter
shall be posted in a conspicuous place, visible to the public at the
operator's storage facility and principal place of business.
C.
All fees are subject to New Jersey State laws, including, but not
limited to, N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1(c), which provides that when a vehicle
is abandoned due to the death or incapacitation of the driver or any
passenger, the person storing the vehicle shall charge the owner of
record or the security interest holder no more than $100 for the first
72 hours after the vehicle is placed on the premises.
D.
Consent tows and the use of specialized equipment to perform a recovery
service are permissible and are outside the terms of this chapter.
E.
In no instance shall the operator request payment from the Borough
for any services rendered to the owners of private vehicles, except,
however, in those cases where the Police Department authorizes the
removal of a Borough-owned vehicle.
F.
Towing of any and all disabled Borough vehicles shall be covered
under the pricing listed in this chapter.
G.
The operator shall prepare a bill for towing charges for each vehicle
towed, consistent with the rate schedule of towing services in this
chapter. Prior to the release of any vehicle by the operator from
the storage facility, the operator shall obtain payment for its towing
fee and storage as indicated on said bill.
A.
The Chief of Police shall have the power to suspend an operator from
the towing operators rotational list for a period of up to 30 calendar
days for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter. A subsequent
violation may result in the permanent removal of an operator from
the towing operators rotational list for a twelve-month period. An
operator may appeal the Chief's ruling of either a suspension
or a permanent removal. In such cases, an appeal may be filed with
the Borough Administrator within 10 business days of the Chief's
decision. The Borough Administrator shall render his determination
within 20 business days. The Borough Administrator's determination,
as rendered, shall be final and conclusive under this chapter.
B.
In addition, failure to comply with the Borough's Zoning, Land
Use[1] and Property Maintenance[2] codes or failure to pay municipal taxes may subject any operator to suspension from the towing operators rotational list upon request to the Chief of Police from the Borough's Construction Code Official, Zoning Officer, Health Officer, or Tax Collector. Any operator suspended from the towing operators rotational list for any violation of the Borough's Zoning, Land Use and Property Maintenance codes shall have the right to due process and appeal as set forth in Subsection A above.
No impounded vehicle shall be released without proper authorization
from the Wharton Borough Police Department. Vehicles may be released
by tow operators between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except legal holidays. After-hours vehicle releases
are at the discretion of the tow operator and are subject to the after-hours
vehicle release fee.
A.
Vehicles designated and determined to be abandoned by the Borough
of Wharton Police Department shall be removed to the operator's
storage area. The last known registered owner shall be notified, in
writing, by the Borough of Wharton Police Department, within 15 days
of the vehicle being towed, that the vehicle is in violation of the
law and must satisfy all state and local laws pertaining to the registration
and insurance requirements. If the owner does not comply or respond
to this notification, the Police Department will initiate the proper
title to take control of the vehicle within 90 days of having the
vehicle towed to the storage area. The Borough of Wharton Police Department
will make application for a certificate of ownership or junk title
through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.
B.
Whenever any motor vehicle that was towed by an operator pursuant
to this chapter shall remain unclaimed for the minimum holding period
set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1b, such vehicle may be subject to sale
at public auction as provided in N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 et seq.
C.
The Borough Council shall, by resolution, provide for the sale of
abandoned or unclaimed vehicles at public auction, after notice as
required by N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 et seq.
D.
The following procedure shall be followed in regards to the auction
of abandoned or unclaimed vehicles:
(1)
The estimated value ("EV") of the vehicle shall be determined as
well as the outstanding towing and storage charges to the date of
the anticipated auction.
(2)
If the "EV" of the vehicle exceeds $400, and is equal to or more
than the aggregated towing and storage charges to the date of the
auction, the vehicle should be sold at public auction with a minimum
bid equal to the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges.
If at auction, the amount bid is equal to the minimum bid, all of
the funds are paid to the person towing and storing the vehicle from
the monies given to the Borough from the sale. If the bid exceeds
the minimum, any excess is retained by the Borough.
(3)
If the "EV" of the vehicle exceeds $400, but is less than the outstanding
towing and storage charges due, the Borough should auction the vehicle
with a minimum bid equal to the "EV" of the vehicle and pay the entire
amount over to the person who towed and stored the vehicle up to the
amount of accrued towing and storage charges, retaining any amount
over the outstanding charges.
(4)
If the "EV" of the vehicle is less than $400, then the municipality
should auction the vehicle without a minimum price and pay over to
the person towing and storing the vehicle whatever it receives, provided
that it is equal to or less than the aggregate amount outstanding.
(5)
If no bid is received in any of the above scenarios, then the Borough
can pay the person towing and storing the vehicle the $400 (from its
own coffers) and take title to the vehicle or pay nothing to the person
towing and storing the vehicle and instead convey the junk title to
that person.
(6)
Any conveyance of title (or application for title) to the person
towing and storing the vehicle should be accompanied by a release
signed by them, releasing the Borough from any liability for the payment
of any further fees to the person towing and storing the vehicle.
(8)
A public sale needs to take place in all cases in order to establish
title in a third party (successful bidder) or to establish title in
the Borough (when no one bids or the minimum bid is not achieved).
