The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and pricing
for towing services, storage of vehicles and accident cleanup services
within the Borough of Lindenwold when said services are requested
by the Borough's Police Department.
The Schedule of Towing Service Fees shall be as prescribed in Chapter
150, Fees, Article
I, Fee Schedule, §
150-44. A qualified tower may not charge in excess of said schedule for services provided at the direction of the police.
Any tower interested in qualifying shall present to the Chief of Police, who is designated as the municipal officer to enforce the provisions of this chapter, proof of compliance with §
317-2B and other such information as the Chief deems relevant on an annual basis. The Chief shall review such proofs and, if satisfied with the same, issue a written notice of qualification to the applicant and place the name of the qualified applicant on the list of towers to be called by the Police Department on a rotating basis.
In the event that the Police Chief determines that a qualified
tower is no longer in compliance with this chapter, the Chief shall
give such qualified tower written notice of the deficiency and an
opportunity to cure the deficiency under such terms established by
the Chief. If the deficiency is not cured, the Chief shall send the
qualified tower written notice that the qualification has been revoked.
In the event of a second instance of the same deficiency within one
year the Chief shall be authorized to immediately revoke the qualification.
Any tower aggrieved by the revocation of qualification by the Police Chief shall be entitled to a hearing before the Mayor and Council, which could sustain the Chief's action, reverse it, modify it and/or add conditions. Any aggrieved tower desiring such a hearing shall file with the Borough Clerk a written statement requesting the same and setting out the factual basis for the appeal and pay a fee as prescribed in Chapter
150, Fees, Article
I, Fee Schedule, §
150-44, all or a portion of which may be refunded by the Mayor and Council in the event of a reversal or modification of the Chief's decision.
Any qualified tower, as a condition of said qualification, shall
comply with the following general procedures:
A. Tower shall be notified by the Police Department for the removal
of all vehicles whether considered abandoned, disabled or impounded.
Tower must arrive prepared to remove all vehicles within 20 minutes
of notification, unless otherwise specified by the Police Department.
If the tower fails to respond within the allotted time, the Borough
may, within its discretion, notify another vendor to effect immediate
removal and towing of vehicles. Any towing charges assessed by the
vendor to the Borough shall be passed on to the tower.
B. Tower must be available for removal and storage of vehicles 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, including the removal of abandoned vehicles.
C. In the event that the owner of a vehicle also arrives at the scene
to which a tower has been summoned, with approval of the Police Department
the owner shall be allowed to remove the vehicle at no expense to
himself or the Borough.
D. In the event the tower is required to perform additional unspecified
services in furtherance of its obligations hereunder, such services
shall be provided at reasonable cost. Such services shall not affect
the basic towing and storage charges outlined in the Borough's
Schedule of Fees.
E. In the event that a vehicle has been wrongfully removed pursuant
to this chapter, the vehicle shall be returned to the owner at no
charge. On occasion, tower will be required to tow certain wrongfully
removed vehicles back to the initial towing site.
F. Any municipal-owned vehicles shall be towed free of charge.
G. Tower shall change flat tires on any vehicle assigned to the Police
Department free of charge at any time when employees of the Borough
Garage are not working or available.
H. Tower must accept all major credit cards for all towing services
and associated costs.
Tower shall maintain records of all vehicles towed, stored and
released by him, as well as all services rendered while performing
services covered by this chapter.