For the purpose of this chapter, these terms,
phrases, words and their derivations shall have the following meanings:
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
VEHICLE
A private passenger or station-wagon-type automobile, not
used as a livery, and a pickup truck or van used for recreational
purposes.
WRECKER
A person engaged in the business of offering the services
of a towing service whereby disabled motor vehicles are towed or otherwise
removed from the places where they are disabled, impounded or abandoned
by use of a wrecker or truck so designed for that purpose.
Every wrecker called by the Division of Police
shall keep a record of the name and address of the owner of the towed
vehicle. Prior to towing the vehicle from the scene of the accident
or incident, the operator of the wrecker shall inspect the vehicle
and hold for safekeeping property contained in the vehicle. A police
officer shall countersign the list of property so prepared, and a
copy shall be retained with the accident or incident report.
Any wrecker on the approved list shall charge
no more than the following maximum charges:
A. For towing vehicles during the day, the charge will
be $40 for the first mile or less and an additional fee of no more
than $4.50 for each additional mile. For towing vehicles nights, weekends
and New Jersey state holidays, the charge will be $50 for the first
mile or less and an additional fee of no more than $4.50 for each
additional mile. The day rate shall apply between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. The night, weekend and holiday rate shall apply otherwise. This
charge is for towing only. "Towing" is defined as hoisting and transporting
a vehicle to another location. An additional fee of no more than $70
may be charged if winching, use of dollies and extraction are required.
The towing charges shall be calculated on the total distance traveled
from the wrecker’s facility to the job site and return by way
of the shortest available route. Fractions shall be rounded up to
the nearest whole mile. In the event that an owner/operator of a vehicle
chooses to have his or her vehicle towed to a location other than
in Stillwater and other than the wrecker’s facility, the charges
will be assessed on the owner/operator’s agreement with the
wrecker.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-9]
B. Storage shall be $40 per day for up to 30 days. Any
vehicle stored in excess of 30 days shall have an abandoned vehicle
summons issued.
[Amended 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-9]
C. In cases where the wrecker must hire laborers or rent
or use other specialized equipment, all resulting reasonable charges
shall be paid by the owner of the vehicle.
D. In the event that it is necessary to unload a vehicle
which has been used for transportation of goods prior to or after
towing, an agreement shall be reached between the wrecker and the
owner of the vehicle or the owner's agent or representative as to
the charge for the service.
The Chief of Police, in conjunction with the Township Attorney, is hereby authorized
to enforce the provisions of this chapter in accordance with due process
of law.
In addition to being removed from the towing
list, for violation of any provisions of this chapter, the maximum
penalty upon conviction shall be a fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment
for a period not exceeding six months, or both.
All regulations contained herein and fee schedules
of individual wreckers shall be made available to the public during
normal business hours.
Nothing in this chapter shall abrogate or in
any way diminish the rights of the vehicle owner/operator to have
the wrecker deliver the vehicle to a location of his or her own selection.