As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BASIC TOWING SERVICE
The removal and transportation of an automobile or solid
debris resulting from an accident, motor vehicle crash, or otherwise
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, but does not include recovery of an automobile from a position
beyond the right-of-way or berm, or from being impaled upon any other
object within the right-of-way or berm.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
A motor vehicle of any type used in the conduct of any business
of professional conveyance, or used as a public or livery means, for
the paid conveyance of passengers.
INSIDE BUILDING
A vehicle storage facility that is completely indoors, having
one or more openings in the wall, for storage and removal of vehicles
and that is secured by a locking device on each opening.
MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH
An occurrence in which a private passenger automobile comes
into contact with any other object for which the private passenger
automobile must be towed or removed for placement in a storage facility.
This includes all situations which are accidental as to the owner
or operator of the motor vehicle even if they were caused by the intentional
acts of a perpetrator where the perpetrator was not the owner or operator
of the motor vehicle.
OFFICIAL TOWERS
Entities which:
A.
Own or operate tow vehicles; and
B.
Have been designated as official towers pursuant to this chapter.
OUTSIDE SECURED
An 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 and is installed with a passive alarm system or a similar
on-site security measure. The facility is to be lighted at night.
OUTSIDE UNSECURED
An automobile storage facility that is not indoors and is
not secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier, and all other
storage facilities not defined above as "inside building" or "outside
secured."
PASSENGER VEHICLE
A motor vehicle of a private passenger or station wagon type
that is owned or leased and is neither used as a public or livery
conveyance for passengers nor rented to others with a driver; and
a motor vehicle with a pickup body, or delivery sedan, a van, a sport
utility vehicle (SUV), or a panel truck or a camper-type vehicle used
for recreational purposes owned by an individual not used in the occupation,
profession or business of the owner(s).
STORAGE CHARGES FOR CALENDAR DAY
The maximum allowable amount to be charged by a storage facility
for a calendar day or portion thereof. A new calendar day begins at
12:01 a.m.
TOW VEHICLE
Only those vehicles equipped with a boom or booms, winches,
slings, tilt beds, wheel lifts or under-reach equipment specifically
designed by its manufacturer for the removal or transport of motor
vehicles.
To qualify for inclusion on the list of official towers, applicants
must meet the following minimum standards:
A. Minimum vehicle requirements.
(1) Every official tower shall maintain and have available to render
services required by this chapter a minimum of one regular tow vehicle
and one flatbed vehicle.
(2) Vehicle classes.
(a)
Regular tow vehicles must be equipped with a boom or winch assembly
mounted on the chassis, a tow sling or wheel lift assembly with at
least 100 feet of either three-eighths-inch or seven-sixteenths-inch
cable attached to a motor driven winch.
(b)
Flatbed vehicles must be equipped with a winch or hydraulically
operated bed which slides or tilts to accommodate transporting of
vehicles.
(3) Each applicant shall submit, along with its application, proof of
ownership or lease of the vehicles which will be utilized to provide
services pursuant to this chapter.
B. Minimum equipment requirements.
(1) Every tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle shall be equipped with the following:
(a)
At least one amber rotating beacon or strobe light mounted on
the highest practical location of the vehicles, visible from 360°
when in use and visible at a minimum distance of 500 feet during daylight
hours.
(b)
One snatch block per winch.
(c)
Safety tow lights or magnetic tow lights affixed on towed vehicles
at night, red colored, when other lights not available.
(d)
Extra chains and cable for pulling or securing a towed vehicle.
(e)
At least one heavy-duty broom, a shovel, a crowbar or prybar,
a set of jumper cables, a flashlight, one two-pound-or-larger fire
extinguisher of dry chemical type, one dozen flares or similar warning
devices for placement at the scene of a motor vehicle crash or behind
a disabled vehicle, and a sufficient quantity and types of tools to
enable the tow vehicle operator to perform proper and adequate emergency
repair services for the tow.
(2) Every tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle shall be in compliance with
any and all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations
and ordinances pertaining to safety, lighting and towing equipment
requirements, and shall be subject to inspection by the Chief of Police
or his designee at any time. No structural or other change may be
made to an inspected vehicle or equipment unless prior written approval
is obtained from the Township.
(3) Every tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle employed by the official tower
pursuant to this chapter shall display the official tower license
and shall have the name of the official tower displayed on the vehicle
in such manner and of such lettering as conforms to the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 39:4-46.
C. Minimum personnel requirements. Official towers shall have available,
at all times, a minimum of two persons to provide the services required
by this chapter. All persons employed by official towers to provide
the services required by this chapter shall meet the following requirements
and be subject to the following regulations. They shall:
(1) Be competent mechanics able to provide minimum road services for
disabled vehicles.
(2) Have a valid New Jersey auto driver's license or commercial
driver's license (where required) having no restrictions or conditional
endorsements other than a condition requiring the wearing of eyeglasses.
(3) Be mentally alert at all times.
(4) Obey all traffic laws and regulations.
(5) Be subject to interview, and be approved, by the Chief of Police
of the Township prior to rendering any services pursuant to this chapter.
(6) Not have been convicted of a criminal offense nor had the driving
privilege suspended or revoked within the past year.
D. Minimum storage requirements.
(1) Every official tower shall maintain an inside building or outside
secured storage area meeting the following requirements:
(a)
The storage area shall be capable of storing a minimum of 10
passenger vehicles. All impounded vehicles shall be held in a secured
area, located either inside or outside in the secured storage area.
(b)
The location of both the storage area and the tow vehicle's
base of service shall be within the State of New Jersey and within
two miles of its boundary line.
(c)
The storage area shall be fully enclosed by a sturdy fence having
a minimum height of six feet, with at least one lockable gate for
ingress and egress and shall be lighted from dusk to dawn.
(d)
The storage area shall be in an area legally zoned for such
use.
(e)
The storage facility shall be available to the official tower
24 hours a day, 365 days per year, and shall be open to the public
on weekdays during normal business hours and for limited hours on
weekends. The minimum hours for recovery of released vehicles shall
be from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 8:00 a.m. to
12:00 noon on Saturdays. Recovery of vehicles on holidays, Sundays
or weekday and Saturday hours beyond those specified above may be
subject to arrangement by the vehicle owner and official tower. Vehicle
recovery hours shall be posted in a conspicuous location visible to
the public.
(f)
The official tower shall not charge a release fee or make any
other charge for releasing a vehicle to its owner after normal business
hours or on weekends.
(2) The applicant shall, with its application, submit proof of ownership
or lease of the storage area.
(3) The official tower shall be responsible for ensuring the proper and
safe storage of all vehicles towed pursuant to this chapter. The official
tower shall be liable for any damage incurred by such vehicles while
in transit to or while stored in the storage areas.
(4) The official tower is prohibited from piling of vehicles or parking
on public streets or sidewalks.
To qualify as an official tower and to maintain the official
tower's license, all applicants and official towers shall agree
in writing to assume the complete legal defense costs (including attorneys'
and all other experts' fees, costs and the reasonable disbursements)
of the Township in any mediation, arbitration or action of any kind
(including all appeals), and to fully and completely indemnify and
hold harmless the Township, the Township's elected officials,
boards, commissions, officers, employees and agents from any and all
suits, actions, damages, claims, liabilities, expenses, losses or
judgments, of any kind and of any nature whatsoever, asserted against
the Township resulting from, caused by, arising out of or incurred
as a consequence of the official tower's provision of towing,
wrecking, storage and/or emergency services, including any and all
ancillary or related services, provided at the request of the Township
pursuant to this chapter.