As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ABANDONED VEHICLE
A motor vehicle of any type and in any condition that has
been left on or along any highway or other public property or on private
property without the consent of the owner or person in charge of the
private property for a period of more than 48 hours or for any period
without current license plates in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.5.
AUTOMOBILE
A private passenger motor vehicle or any vehicle included
in the definition of "automobile" under N.J.S.A. 39:6A-2.
BASIC TOWING SERVICE
The removal and transportation of an automobile from a highway,
street or other public or private road, or a parking area, or from
a storage facility, and other services normally incidental 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.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular
power, except such vehicles that run only upon rails or tracks or
motorized bicycles.
TOW OPERATOR
A person engaged in the business of towing and storing motor
vehicles or offering the services of a tow vehicle or tow truck and
storage services.
TOW VEHICLE or TOW TRUCK
Those vehicles equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings,
tilt beds, wheel lifts, or underreach equipment specifically designed
by their manufacturer for the removal or transport of motor vehicles,
including flatbed vehicles, employed for the purpose of towing, transporting,
conveying and/or removing motor vehicles which are unable to be operated
under their own power from one place to another for which a charge
or fee is extracted.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Eastampton Township.
No person shall engage in the business of towing or storing
motor vehicles at the direction of the Township of Eastampton Township
Police Department without first obtaining a tow operator's license
therefor. Nothing herein shall require licensing for the rendering
of road service or for the provision of towing and storage services
within the Township other than at the request of the Township Police
Department.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Police Department
or the Township Clerk in the denial of an application for a license
or in revocation thereof or in the suspension from the Township's
on-call towing list may appeal to the Township Manager by filing with
the Municipal Clerk, within 14 days after notice of the action complained
of has been mailed to such person's last known address, a written
request for a hearing, setting forth fully the grounds for the appeal.
The Manager will set a time and place for a hearing on such appeal,
and notice shall be served on or mailed to the applicant or licensee
at least five days prior to the hearing. The Township Manager's
appeal decision shall be final and binding on the applicant, and no
appeal thereof may be taken.
The Police Department shall promulgate such rules, regulations,
and procedures, not inconsistent with this chapter, as may be reasonable
and necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Copies
thereof shall be provided to all licensed tow operators and shall
be made available to the public, along with copies of current fee
schedules, during normal business hours. Failure to comply with applicable
rules, regulations and procedures may be cause for revocation of a
tow operator's license.
The Police Department is hereby designated to enforce the provisions
of this chapter and any applicable rules and regulations.