This chapter shall be known and may be cited
as the "Tow Truck Ordinance."
[Amended 2-20-1990]
No person shall engage in the business of operating
a wrecker for the purpose of towing or transporting vehicles within
the City or offer such services for police rotation towing without
first obtaining a permit as hereinafter provided from the Chief of
Police.
No permit shall be issued to an applicant hereunder
until such applicant shall have deposited with the Chief of Police
evidence of the following insurance:
A. Garage keeper's policy: a garage keeper's legal liability
policy covering fire, theft and explosion in the amount of $300,000/$300,000.
B. Garage liability policy: a garage liability policy
covering the operation of the applicant's business, equipment or vehicles
for any bodily injury or property damage in the amount of $300,000/$300,000.
[Amended 9-15-1980]
The amounts of these insurance policies shall
be reviewed by the City Council every three years for their adequacy.
Each insurance policy required herein must contain
an endorsement providing for 30 days' notice to the City in the event
of any material change or cancellation.
No wrecker or any employee or owner of a garage
or repair shop shall go to the scene of an accident unless dispatched
to the scene by an authorized member of the Meriden Police Department
or unless requested by the owner or operator of the damaged vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any wrecker to go to
the scene of an accident with the intent to solicit repair or tow
jobs.
Failure to respond to the scene of an accident
within 20 minutes after being dispatched by the Police Department
will be deemed an unreasonable delay, and a second wrecker will be
dispatched from the rotation list. The wrecker failing to respond
in the given time will be charged with a passed call.
Wrecker firms which fail to respond to a call
for services from the Police Department three times in a three-month
period within a calendar year shall be suspended or removed from the
wrecker rotation list. For the first offense suspension shall be 30
days; for the second offense, 90 days; and for the third offense,
permanent removal from the rotation list roster. Each offense shall
be removed from the record upon expiration of two years from the date
of said offense.
[Amended 9-15-1980]
The owner of a wrecker firm may ask for a hearing
before the City Council to answer any charges of violations that are
being brought against his/her firm or employees.
The overall responsibility for the safety of
persons and property at the scene of an accident shall rest with the
investigating officer. The following will apply if any wrecker operators
violate any of the policy and procedure as stated in this order: the
officer at the scene shall forward a written report of the wrecker's
conduct and violation to his/her shift commander; the shift commander
will forward this report to the Captain of Operation, who will forward
the same to the Chief of Police for evaluation and record keeping.
It shall be the duty of shift commander to see that this policy and
procedure is followed.