[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Raritan 5-26-1992 (Ch. 78A of the 1966 Code); amended in its entirety 3-27-2012 by Ord. No. 12-04. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 82.
A. 
Purposes. The purposes of this chapter are as follows:
(1) 
To establish a uniform policy for the handling of motor vehicle towing, storage and road service operations within the Borough by towing and storage service companies on the official tower lists.
(2) 
To protect the public health, safety and welfare and to assure that the public receives the best possible service from only qualified tow vehicle drivers.
(3) 
To assure proper storage of vehicles for the purpose of investigation or impoundment and release of vehicles to the proper owner, agent or authority.
(4) 
To establish a requirement and procedure for licensing of persons who desire to be included on the official tower lists.
(5) 
To establish maximum fees for towing and storage service pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.49 and 40A:11-5(1)(u).
B. 
Scope. This chapter shall apply to all motor vehicle towing, storage and road service operations within the Borough of Raritan which occur at the initiation of the Borough Police Department. Nothing herein limits the right of the owner or operator of a motor vehicle to request or summon a tow driver of his or her own choosing or a tow driver from another municipality, unless a Borough police officer at the scene determines that the tow driver to be summoned cannot arrive at the scene within the time limits specified in this chapter or does not have the proper equipment to clear the scene, and the safety of persons or motorists may be jeopardized.
C. 
Definitions. When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police or the designee of the Chief of Police.
DAY
The hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
FLATBED TOW VEHICLE
A tow vehicle designed to transport a motor vehicle by means of raising the motor vehicle from road level up onto a hydraulic bed for transportation.
HEAVY-DUTY LICENSEE
A licensee with equipment designed to be capable of towing motor vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds.
LICENSEE
A person engaged in the business of or offering the services of a tow vehicle and storage services and who has been granted a license to do so for the Borough.
LIGHT-DUTY LICENSEE
A licensee with equipment designed to be capable of towing motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
MOTOR VEHICLE
A vehicle propelled other than by muscular power, including a trailer and recreational camper, excepting a vehicle that runs only upon rails or tracks, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters, motorized wheelchairs and motorized skateboards.
NIGHT
The hours of 6:01 p.m. to 7:59 a.m.
OFFICIAL TOWER LISTS
Lists to be maintained by the Borough Police Department containing the names of those light-duty and heavy-duty licensees eligible to respond to tow requests for the Borough.
PERSON
Any individual, sole proprietorship, firm, partnership, association, business entity, corporation, company or organization.
SECURE STORAGE FACILITY
A storage facility that is either completely indoors or an outdoor facility that is lighted from dusk to dawn, is surrounded by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier that is at least six feet in height with at least one lockable gate for ingress and egress.
STATE
The State of New Jersey.
STORAGE FACILITY
A place at which motor vehicles that have been towed are stored.
TOW DRIVER
An individual licensed to operate a tow vehicle in the state.
TOW VEHICLE
A vehicle, including a flatbed tow vehicle, 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, and any other vehicle driven by mechanical power, and employed for the purpose of towing, transporting, conveying and/or removing motor vehicles which are unable to be and actually are not operated under their own power, from one place to another.
UNIT
An area that measures 10 feet by 20 feet.
WEEKENDS
The time from 6:01 p.m. on Friday to 7:59 a.m. on Monday.
A. 
Contents of application for official tower license. Any person who wishes to engage in the business of towing or storing of motor vehicles in the Borough at police request may obtain an application for an official tower license from the Borough Clerk. The completed application shall be submitted, in duplicate, to the Borough Clerk. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of $150 to defray the Borough's administrative costs in processing the application and shall include the following:
(1) 
The full name and address of the applicant. If the application is made for a business entity, it shall state the name and address of the partners or officers and directors, and its registered office and agent, and the names and residential addresses of every stockholder owning more than 10% of the issued stock, if applicable;
(2) 
The year, make and type of each tow vehicle used in the business, their serial numbers, state registration numbers and, for leased vehicles, the titled owner(s);
(3) 
The address where the tow vehicles shall be regularly garaged, the telephone numbers (available on a twenty-four-hour-per-day basis for purposes of the official tower lists) and the names of all drivers, their addresses and their New Jersey motor vehicle driver license numbers;
(4) 
The location, size and security features of the storage facility in which towed motor vehicles shall be stored, including a statement of the number of units of parking available at the storage facility and whether the storage facility is secured or unsecured;
(5) 
A criminal history record obtained by each tow driver as prescribed by the New Jersey State Police. Forms and instructions can be obtained from the Borough Clerk or from www.njsp.org.
[Amended 7-24-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10]
(6) 
A certification of insurance from an insurer authorized to do business in the state and a schedule of the insured tow vehicles that are to be utilized by the applicant to meet the requirements of this chapter;
(7) 
An indemnification, in a form approved by the Borough Attorney, that the applicant shall hold harmless and indemnify the Borough, its officers, employees and agents from any and all liability claims, losses or damage arising or alleged to arise from the performance of the towing services requested and/or rendered by the applicant, including any liability which may arise from the applicant's disposal of hazardous materials;
(8) 
A consent, in a form approved by the Borough Attorney, that the Chief of Police may, at any reasonable time, conduct an inspection of the tow vehicles or storage lot of any applicant or licensee for the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter;
(9) 
A proposed classification of the applicant as a light-duty licensee, a heavy-duty licensee or both.
B. 
Investigation.
(1) 
The Clerk shall refer each application to the Chief of Police within seven days after receipt. The Chief of Police shall conduct an investigation to determine the following:
(a) 
The truth and accuracy of all information contained in the application;
(b) 
Whether all tow drivers who will engage in the licensed activity have valid commercial driver licenses;
(c) 
Whether any tow drivers have criminal histories that make them unfit and improper persons to conduct the proposed business;
(d) 
Whether the applicant has demonstrated, by its equipment and the location of its business, the ability to respond in the manner required in this chapter;
(e) 
Whether the equipment is in safe and sound condition and complies with the standards of this chapter, as well as any applicable provisions of the New Jersey Statutes and Regulations;
(f) 
Whether the proposed business location and storage area comply with Chapter 207, Land Use and Development, if located within the Borough;
(g) 
Whether the applicant has proof of ownership or valid agreement for use of the storage area.
(2) 
Applications for tower licenses shall be investigated by the Chief of Police and approved or disapproved within 30 days of receipt from the Borough Clerk.
[Amended 7-24-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10]
(3) 
The Chief of Police shall provide a written explanation of the reasons for disapproving any application.
[Amended 7-24-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10]
C. 
Issuance or denial of license; renewal of license; transferability.
(1) 
A license will not be granted if a criminal history record background check of any tow driver listed in the application reveals a record of conviction for any of the following crimes in New Jersey or elsewhere, or any comparable crimes in any other jurisdiction:
(a) 
Aggravated assault;
(b) 
Arson;
(c) 
Burglary;
(d) 
Escape;
(e) 
Extortion;
(f) 
Homicide;
(g) 
Kidnapping;
(h) 
Robbery;
(i) 
Aggravated sexual assault;
(j) 
Sexual assault or endangering the welfare of a child;
(k) 
Unlawful possession of a weapon;
(l) 
Anything other than a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense for the unlawful use, possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:35-2.
(2) 
If an application is disapproved by the Chief of Police, the Borough Clerk shall notify the applicant by mail that the application is disapproved and shall deny the issuance of the license. Notice shall be mailed within three business days following the endorsement of disapproval by the Chief of Police.
(3) 
If the Chief of Police approves the application, the Borough Clerk shall issue an official tower license to the applicant.
(4) 
The license shall contain the name and address of the licensee, the number of the license, the date of issuance and expiration date, and the signature of the Borough Clerk and the seal of the Borough. The Borough Clerk shall send a copy of the license to the Borough Police Department for filing and shall keep a permanent record of all licenses issued.
(5) 
All licenses shall expire on December 31 of the year of issue. A renewal application shall be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the expiration date. Renewal applications shall be obtained from the Borough Clerk. The fee for a renewal application shall be $150 to defray the Borough's administrative costs.
(6) 
A license issued under this chapter shall not be transferable.
(7) 
If any of the information provided by an applicant pursuant to this chapter changes after the license is granted, the applicant shall notify the Borough Clerk of those changes within 10 business days.
(8) 
For any new tow driver hired after the license is granted, the applicant shall submit within 10 business days of hire, for investigative purposes, the name, address, New Jersey motor vehicle driver license number, proof of valid CDL, and a criminal history record obtained by the applicant as prescribed by the New Jersey State Police. Any new hire shall be prohibited from performing services for the Borough until the investigation, as set forth in this chapter, on that new tow driver, is approved by the Chief of Police.
[Amended 7-24-2012 by Ord. No. 12-10]
(9) 
Suspension of any driving privileges of any tow driver after the license is granted shall be immediately reported to the Borough Clerk.
D. 
Suspension or termination of license.
(1) 
A license may be suspended or terminated by the Borough Clerk, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police, under the following circumstances:
(a) 
If it is found that the license was secured by fraud, misrepresentation or false statement, or by the concealment of a material fact by the applicant.
(b) 
If the licensee has violated any of the requirements of this chapter, including maximum fee limitations, any additional regulations established by the Chief of Police, any federal or state law, any Borough ordinance relating to the operation of a motor vehicle, or any ordinance enacted in another municipality relating to the provision of towing and storage services.
(c) 
Unsatisfactory service which, in the reasonable opinion of the Chief of Police, has, does or will jeopardize the public safety, health and welfare.
(d) 
Unethical or fraudulent business practices in connection with towing or storage services or repairs.
(e) 
The loss of, or a material change in, insurance coverage required by this chapter.
(f) 
Failure to comply with the requirements for continued inclusion on the official tower list established by this chapter.
(2) 
Notice of suspension or termination shall be communicated to the licensee, and, thereafter, it shall be unlawful for the licensee or any of the licensee's agents, employees or representatives to engage in towing and storage services for the Borough.
E. 
Hearing upon denial, suspension or termination.
(1) 
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Borough Clerk in the denial of an application for a license, or the suspension or revocation of a license, shall have the right to appeal to the Borough Council. The appeal shall be taken by filing a written request for a hearing with the Borough Clerk within 14 days after notice of the action complained of has been communicated to the applicant or licensee. If an appeal is taken, the applicant or licensee shall be provided with a notice of a hearing before the Borough Council, which notice shall be in writing, setting forth the grounds of the complaint and the time and place of the hearing. The notice of a hearing shall be mailed to the applicant's or licensee's business address at least five business days prior to the date set for the hearing, and no more than five business days after receipt by the Borough Clerk of the written request for a hearing. The decision of the Borough Council on an appeal shall be final and conclusive and shall be rendered, in writing, no later than 10 days after the completion of the hearing. In the case of a licensee, the license shall remain suspended during the appeal process. If the decision on appeal requires revocation of a license, failure to surrender the license within one day of delivery of the final written decision to the licensee shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(2) 
Nothing contained herein shall prevent or limit the right of any person to commence or maintain a cause of action for damages or any other relief directly against a licensee in a court of competent jurisdiction.
A. 
Insurance limits. Every licensee shall carry insurance as follows:
(1) 
Motor vehicle liability insurance coverage for the death of, or injury to, persons or damage to property for each accident or occurrence in the amount of at least $2,000,000 single limit.
(2) 
Garage keeper's liability in an amount not less than $75,000, covering fire, theft, explosion and collision coverage.
(3) 
Garage liability in an amount not less than $1,000,000 combined single limits.
(4) 
Endorsements to provide for collision coverage for vehicles in tow.
(5) 
Comprehensive general liability coverage in an amount not less than $1,000,000 for each person and $3,000,000 for each accident.
(6) 
Workers' compensation as required by New Jersey law.
(7) 
Endorsement naming the Borough of Raritan as an additional insured in all insurance policies, except the workers' compensation policy. Endorsement shall specifically incorporate by reference the insurance and indemnification requirements of this section.
B. 
General insurance requirements.
(1) 
All insurance policies shall be written by insurance companies acceptable to the Borough and authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey.
(2) 
No license shall be issued until an applicant shall have deposited with the Clerk certificates of insurance evidencing the insurance coverage and endorsements required by the chapter. All certificates shall provide for 30 days' prior written notice to the Borough of a policy cancellation or material change.
(3) 
Copies of the actual insurance policies, with all required endorsements, shall be provided to the Clerk upon request.
(4) 
No licensee shall be included on the official tower lists in the Borough of Raritan unless the required insurance coverage is in place and has been approved by the Clerk.
A. 
The Chief of Police shall maintain one list of the names of light-duty licensees and a separate list for heavy-duty licensees.
B. 
Calls to licensees on these lists shall be made starting with the first licensee on the list and then proceeding to the next consecutive licensee until all licensees on the list have been called, at which time calls will be made starting over with the first licensee on the list.
C. 
Response times to police requests for towing services shall not exceed 20 minutes from the time of the dispatcher's call to the time of arrival at the scene.
D. 
Continued inclusion of a licensee on the official tower lists shall be subject to the following:
(1) 
Compliance with the Predatory Towing Prevention Act (N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq.) and all other state towing and storage statutes and regulations;
(2) 
Compliance with requests by the Borough Police Department to perform emergency road service when it is deemed necessary. The fees charged for any requested service shall be reasonable.
E. 
A licensee that for any reason cannot respond when called shall not have another towing company respond in its place. The next licensee on the list shall be called by dispatch to respond.
F. 
A licensee that fails to respond to four or more Borough Police Department requests in any four-week period may be subject to removal from the official tower lists for the following calendar month.
(1) 
If a call to a licensee is not answered by a human being, that call will be deemed a failure to respond, and the next licensee in the rotation will be called.
(2) 
If a licensee accepts a call and then fails to respond to the scene within the twenty-minute time period required by this section, that call will be canceled, and the next licensee on the list will be called. The first licensee called will not be entitled to compensation.
G. 
A licensee may not assign or sublease any work and/or services to be performed pursuant to this chapter to another towing company.
H. 
Nothing in this section shall preclude the right of a motorist or vehicle owner to summon a tow driver of his or her own choosing, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
Payment for services.
(1) 
The Borough shall not be liable for the cost of any services performed by the licensee unless those services are performed for or on municipal vehicles. Payment for towing services for nonmunicipal vehicles shall be a matter solely between the licensee and the motor vehicle owner or operator, except for motor vehicles impounded in conjunction with a criminal investigation.
(2) 
Fees charged for any services not including towing and storage services shall be a matter solely between the licensee and the motor vehicle operator. The fees charged shall be reasonable.
B. 
Police officer at scene to make final determination. When a Borough police officer is at the scene of an incident requiring towing services, that police officer shall be responsible for making the final determination as to when towing shall take place. The officer shall not be limited to the official tower lists when it is clear that special tow vehicles are required for large vehicles and/or public safety may be threatened by vehicles requiring removal.
C. 
Required equipment on tow vehicles; cleanup at scene of towing services.
(1) 
Each light-duty licensee shall have a minimum of tow vehicles available for Borough tows, at least one of which must be a flatbed tow vehicle.
(2) 
All light-duty tow vehicles shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher of the ABC type, safety chains, flares, jumper cables, shovel, pry bar, heavy-duty stiff push brooms, warning lights, substance for handling small liquid spills, and other necessary equipment to provide complete towing services to motor vehicles up to 10,000 pounds. All equipment is subject to approval by the Chief of Police.
(3) 
All heavy-duty tow vehicles shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher of the ABC type, safety chains, flares, jumper cables, shovel, pry bar, heavy-duty stiff push brooms, warning lights, substance for handling liquid spills generated by a motor vehicle over 10,000 pounds, and other necessary equipment to provide complete towing services to motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds. All equipment is subject to approval by the Chief of Police.
(4) 
All tow vehicles shall be equipped with amber beacons or strobe lights, and amber-colored safety tow lights or magnetic tow lights for towing vehicles at night, all as approved by the Chief of Police and as permitted by the state.
(5) 
Each tow driver, prior to departure from the scene of towing services, shall clean and clear any customary or usual debris from an accident. Each tow driver shall also clean, clear, absorb or dilute any usual oil, gasoline or other motor vehicle fluid spilled at the scene of the towing services. All materials disposed of by the tow driver shall be properly disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. Nothing in this section shall prevent the Borough Police Department from summoning any other person, firm or other organization when, in the judgment of the police officer at the scene, an unusual or potentially dangerous situation occurs, or it is otherwise necessary. These situations include, but are not limited to, accidents or breakdowns involving dangerous or potentially dangerous cargo or spills of chemicals, solvents or other fluids.
D. 
Vehicles involved in suspected crimes. Tow drivers shall comply with the directions of the police investigator in connection with vehicles involved in suspected crimes.
E. 
Notification of police required. No tow driver is permitted to tow any vehicle which has been or appears to have been either involved in an accident or operated so as to have left the travel way without first notifying the Borough Police Department.
F. 
Unethical conduct prohibited. No reward, gratuity, gift or any type of remuneration shall be offered to any Borough police officer, Borough official or dispatcher by any licensee or its employee or agent.
G. 
Complaints. Any person wishing to complain about the compliance with this chapter by any licensee may do so by letter to the Borough Clerk setting forth the name of the licensee, the date of the incident(s), and the details of the act(s) giving rise to the complaint. The Clerk shall forward the complaint to the Chief of Police, who shall investigate and make a recommendation as to any action to be taken against the licensee, including, but not limited to, temporarily suspending the licensee from the official tower lists. The Borough Clerk shall suspend or terminate a license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. After three temporary suspensions, the Borough Clerk, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police, may permanently remove a licensee from the official tower lists.
H. 
Recordkeeping requirements. All licensees shall maintain, for a period of three years, written or computerized records of all vehicles towed, stored and released and of all services rendered.
I. 
Solicitation of business. No licensee or employee of the licensee may respond to the scene of an accident or emergency for the purposes of towing vehicles unless specifically called there by the Borough Police Department or person involved in the accident or emergency. This subsection is intended to prohibit tow drivers from soliciting business at the scenes of accidents and emergencies and shall not be construed to prohibit any person from summoning a tow driver of his or her choice in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
J. 
Additional regulations. The Chief of Police, in consultation with the Borough Attorney, is hereby authorized and empowered to establish from time to time additional rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter, as may be reasonable and necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter and to best serve the interests of public safety. Copies of any additional rules and regulations shall be provided immediately to all licensees, who shall sign an acknowledgment of receipt. Additional rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) 
Rotation procedures.
(2) 
Preparation of forms.
(3) 
Details of recordkeeping requirements.
(4) 
Procedures at the scene of an accident or emergency.
(5) 
Procedures for and scheduling of inspections of tow vehicles and storage facilities.
(6) 
Procedures for release of motor vehicles.
(7) 
Junk titles, subject to the requirements of New Jersey statutes and rules.
(8) 
Delegation to specific officers or positions of any of the responsibilities of the Chief of Police as set forth herein.
A. 
Provided a Borough police officer at the scene does not direct otherwise, all motor vehicles towed shall be removed to a secure storage facility, unless the owner or operator of the vehicle specifically requests that it be towed to another place.
B. 
The location of all storage facilities shall be no further than 10 miles from the border of the Borough in order to facilitate reasonable towing distances. All storage facilities within the Borough shall comply with Chapter 207, Land Use and Development.
C. 
All storage facilities shall have a business office open to the public between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., at least five days a week, excluding state holidays. All storage facilities shall provide reasonable accommodations for after-hours release of stored vehicles.
D. 
All storage facilities utilized by heavy-duty licensees shall, at a minimum, be large enough to store a fifty-three-foot tractor-trailer securely outdoors.
E. 
A covered facility shall be provided for security of motor vehicles impounded by the police for death-by-auto or crime incidents. The covered facility must be on the grounds of the towing service or meet the approval of the Chief of Police.
F. 
No one shall release an impounded vehicle without permission of the Chief of Police.
A. 
Schedule of fees for towing services when the request is initiated by the Borough police:
(1) 
Light-duty towing rates:
(a) 
Days:
[1] 
First mile or less: $115.
[2] 
Each additional mile: $3.50.
(b) 
Nights, weekends and state holidays:
[1] 
First mile or less: $125.
[2] 
Each additional mile: $3.50.
(2) 
Heavy-duty towing rates, determined by gross vehicle weight rating (by pounds):
(a) 
Ten-thousand-one through 25,000 pounds:
[1] 
First mile or less: $175.
[2] 
Each additional mile: $5.
(b) 
Twenty-five-thousand-one through 55,000:
[1] 
First mile or less: $300.
[2] 
Each additional mile: $5.
(c) 
Fifty-five-thousand-one through 80,000:
[1] 
First mile or less: $425.
[2] 
Each additional mile: $5.
B. 
Schedule of fees for storage services for motor vehicles:
(1) 
Motor vehicles up to 10,000 pounds:
(a) 
Outdoor secured storage facility: $30/unit.
(b) 
Indoor secured storage facility: $35/unit.
(2) 
Motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds:
(a) 
Outdoor secured storage facility: $80/unit.
(b) 
Indoor secured storage facility: $100/unit.
(3) 
All storage fees to be paid by the Borough for a removed motor vehicle or for the storage of Borough-owned or -operated motor vehicles shall not exceed the fees permitted by N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.50.
C. 
Notice of rates. Prior to hookup or flatbedding of a motor vehicle, the tow driver shall present to the owner or operator of the motor vehicle a copy of the fee schedule as prepared by the Borough Clerk, the name, address and telephone number of the licensee, the address and telephone number of the storage facility, if different, the storage facility hours of operation and a statement of when the motor vehicle may be claimed. The fee schedule shall also be prominently displayed at the storage facility.
A. 
Enforcement. This chapter shall be enforced by the Borough Police Department.
B. 
Penalties. Any applicant or licensee who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, or has an employee who violates any provision of this chapter, shall be subject to license application rejection or license revocation. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500, and the provisions of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act (N.J.S.A. 56:8-1 et seq.) may apply.