For the purpose of this chapter, the following
words shall have the meanings set forth herein:
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES
Charge for post-accident services, including hut not limited
to services such as physical inspection, telephone and/or fax calls,
removal of personal items and additional paperwork This charge must
be documented as to what service was performed.
CRUISING
Driving an unengaged wrecker along a public street at a slow
rate of speed or in any other fashion calculated for the obvious purpose
of soliciting business along the public roadway or highway.
IMPOUND
Any vehicle authorized by law to be seized, towed and held
in the custody of an approved outside secured impound or storage yard
as approved by the Police Department.
OUTSIDE SECURED
Any automobile storage facility that is not indoors and is
secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier that is at least
six feet high. The facility is to be lighted at night.
RECOVERY
Recovery can be achieved by several actions which may include
but are not limited to winching and rigging. A recovery is when the
tow operator applies his knowledge in a skillful manner to preserve
the condition of the motor vehicle while moving the damaged vehicle
to a towable position.
VEHICLE REMOVAL CHARGE
Charge for a motor vehicle towed into the storage facility
of the primary tower that is not movable and must be towed out of
the primary towers storage facility to a public street for towing
by the secondary tower.
WAITING TIME
Additional time a tow operator spends at the scene other
than the time required for the actual tow and/or recovery. Examples
of waiting time may include but are not limited to EMS services or
police investigations.
WINCHING
The process of moving a motor vehicle by the use of the cable
from a position that is not accessible for direct hookup by conventional
means for loading onto a tow vehicle. Winching is not pulling a vehicle
onto a tilt bed or carrier, nor lifting a motor vehicle with a conventional
tow sling.
WRECKER
A vehicle driven by mechanical power and employed for the
purpose of towing, transporting, conveying and removing vehicles which
are unable to be operated under their own power.
Except as provided in §
470-14 thereof, this chapter shall not apply to any person who is not engaged in the business of operating a wrecker within the Township and who causes a wrecker owned, leased or operated by it to:
A. Tow a disabled vehicle through the Township from a
point outside the Township to a destination also outside the Township.
B. Pick up a disabled vehicle outside the Township and
tow it to a destination within the Township.
C. Pick up a disabled vehicle within the Township and
tow it to a destination outside the Township.
The Municipal Clerk shall forthwith submit the
application to the Chief of Police. Within 10 business days after
receipt of an application, as provided for herein, the Chief of Police
or his or her designee shall cause an investigation to be made and
completed of the applicant, his or her business operation and the
wreckers sought to be licensed for the purpose of determining compliance
with this chapter. A report of such investigation, along with a recommendation
as to whether such license should be issued, shall be promptly forwarded
to the Municipal Clerk within 15 business days.
All wreckers licensed hereunder shall contain
a card, decal or metal plate, in a form to be approved by the Chief
of Police, where it can be easily read, stating the license number
and license plate number of the wrecker and the rates to be charged.
Each license issued hereunder prior to June
30 of any year shall expire on June 30 of the year of issuance. Each
license issued after June 30 of any year shall expire on June 30 of
the year following the year in which it is issued.
[Amended 12-1-2020 by Ord. No. 1661-20]
The fee for the issuance of a wrecker's license
shall be the sum of $150 for each wrecker licensed.
Each wrecker sought to be licensed hereunder
shall:
A. Be in good mechanical working order.
B. Contain emergency lights which flash and are capable
of being seen at least 1/4 of a mile away and are of sufficient height
so that they are visible over the towed vehicle.
C. Contain no rotating lights or sirens except by permission
granted by the State Director of Motor Vehicles (amber light permit).
D. Carry a fire extinguisher, five pounds CO2 or dry powder or equivalent.
F. Carry an absorbent material for fluid spills.
G. Meet such other reasonable safety standards as may
from time to time be established by the Township Committee.
[Amended 12-1-2020 by Ord. No. 1661-20]
The maximum rates that may be charged for the
use of a wrecker, whether licensed or unlicensed, for towing a disabled
vehicle from a point within the Township to a destination also within
the Township are as follows:
A. Basic tow.
(1) Motor vehicles up to 4,000 pounds (referred to as Class 1): $150.
(2) Motor vehicles between 4001 pounds and 10,000 pounds (referred to
as Class 2): $175.
(3) Motor vehicles between 10,001 pounds and 30,000 pounds (referred
to as Class 3): $200.
(4) Motor vehicles 30,001 pounds or more (referred to as Class 4): $300.
(5) Motorcycles, Motorized Scooters: $200.
B. Storage fees.
(1) Motor vehicles up to 4,000 pounds (referred to as Class 1): $50 per
day, fee starts immediately.
(2) Motor vehicles between 4001 pounds and 10,000 pounds (referred to
as Class 2): $50 per day, fee starts immediately.
(3) Motor vehicles between 10,001 pounds and 30,000 pounds (referred
to as Class 3): $60 per day, fee starts immediately.
(4) Motor vehicles 30,001 pounds or more (referred to as Class 4): $75
per day, fee starts immediately.
(5) Motorcycles: Outside $40 per day, fee starts immediately; inside
(if available) $50 per day, fee starts immediately.
C. Labor rates.
(1) Clean up fee: $30 flat rate plus $15 for each bag of absorbent material
used.
(2) Waiting time: $35 per one-half hour, waiting time begins one-half
hour after arrival.
(3) Tow to a location not on Township Tow List: $50 flat rate within
the Township. Tows to a location outside of the Township shall be
negotiated pursuant to a separate agreement between the tow company
and the driver prior to the tow.
(4) Tow during emergency to move vehicle for plowing, etc.: $60 flat
rate to move vehicle.
(5) Winching Time: $150 first one-half hour, within 20 feet of the roadway,
for winching operations greater than 20 feet an additional $3 per
foot of cable or chain; $80 every one-half hour after.
(6) Uprighting: $50 per one-half hour.
(7) No Key/Use of Dollies: $75.
(8) Service Requests: Service calls for tire changes, vehicle lockouts,
jump starts, fuel delivery and roadside repairs shall be $60 plus
cost of fuel/parts.
(9) Sealing/Wrapping/Covering vehicle: To include use of materials in
order to prevent damage from inclement weather - $25 per window.
The maximum rates fixed in §
470-11 hereof shall apply to the towing and storage of all passenger vehicles, except all nonpassenger vehicles not exceeding two tons in weight, in the case of:
A. Service rendered to other types of vehicles.
B. Service of a nature unspecified in §
470-11.
C. Services rendered in extraordinary cases involving unusual conditions, the rates to be charged shall be determined by mutual agreement in writing prior to the rendering of such service. The maximum rates fixed in §
470-11 hereof shall not apply to a licensed or unlicensed wrecker for towing of a kind described in §
470-3.
The operator of a wrecker shall advise the customer
of the charges for services to be rendered in advance of their rendition
and give the customer a receipt for the fee paid.
The enforcement of the provisions of this chapter
shall be under the control of the Police Department.
Every person found guilty of violating any of
the provisions of this chapter may, in addition to the suspension
or revocation of the license as provided for herein, be liable to
a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 or may be imprisoned
in the county jail for a period of not more than 30 days, or both.