[HISTORY: Adopted by the North Wildwood City Council 5-18-1976 by Ord. No. 664.[1] Amendments now where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was changed from "Vehicle Impoundment" to "Vehicle Towing" 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893.
When any police officer, or other person having the necessary authority, shall find an illegally parked motor vehicle, a stolen motor vehicle or a motor vehicle determined to have been abandoned or one involved in an accident rendering it unfit for operation on the public highway, within the City limits of the City of North Wildwood, said police officer, or other person having the necessary authority, may cause said motor vehicle to be towed and impounded, pursuant to the contract between the City of North Wildwood and the authorized towing contractor, with the exception of those motor vehicles involved in accidents, which may be towed by the towing contractor to a garage of the owner's choice, if said garage is within a five-mile limit.
Any owner or operator who authorizes, permits or suffers a motor vehicle to be brought inside the City limits of the City of North Wildwood shall be deemed to have consented to the said motor vehicle being towed or impounded pursuant to this chapter.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
The City of North Wildwood shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any motor vehicle towed or impounded pursuant to this chapter nor for any theft in connection therewith.
[Amended 12-18-1984 by Ord. No. 880; 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
Any motor vehicle unclaimed for a period of 30 days after it has been abandoned or impounded will be subject to sale or other disposal pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 12-18-1984 by Ord. No. 880; 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
Where motor vehicles are towed for other police business or in an emergency, such as a cave-in, broken water main or fire, and the motor vehicles were legally parked or proceeding lawfully prior to the emergency, the motor vehicles shall be released to the owner without charge. However, in those instances, the City will reimburse the towing contractor for each motor vehicle at the rate of $10 per motor vehicle.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893]
No towing business or service station operating solely for the purpose of towing motor vehicles at the request of the owner and/or operator of said motor vehicle shall be required to obtain a towing license.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893]
Any individual wishing to operate a truck for the purpose of towing motor vehicles within the City limits of the City of North Wildwood, except with the permission of the owner and/or operator of said motor vehicle, shall operate under the regulations consistent with N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq., the Predatory Towing Prevention Act of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893]
Any changes adopted by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey in the regulations of the Predatory Towing Prevention Act, N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq., shall be deemed to be incorporated herein without the need of resolution, amending ordinance or other authorization by the City of North Wildwood.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 410-9, Application fee, § 410-10, Insurance, § 410-11, General towing regulations, § 410-12, Places where signs required, and § 410-13, Sign specifications, of the 1981 Code, were repealed 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893.
[Added 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
The Director of Public Safety is hereby empowered to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to implement the intent of this chapter.
[Added 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 5-21-2002 by Ord. No. 1411; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates any section of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or community service for not more than 90 days, or any combination thereof. Each day that any violation of any section of this chapter shall exist shall constitute a separate offense and shall be charged as a separate offense by the issuance of additional process.