[Ord. of 7-5-1994, § 1; Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 1; Ord. of 5-29-2001, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
(a) 
The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council has received numerous complaints asserting abusive business practices by persons engaged in the towing of vehicles from private property. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, the City of Poughkeepsie has received complaints asserting that vehicles are towed without proper notice or warning, that vehicles are towed notwithstanding the presence of owners or operators of vehicles who are willing and prepared to voluntarily remove the vehicles from the private property on which they are parked, that fees imposed for towing are excessive, that vehicles are towed to storage locations without identification of the storage location by the person undertaking the taking and that persons undertaking the towing have improperly demanded releases from liability as a condition of physically returning possession of the vehicle to the owner or operator of the vehicle. In response to these numerous complaints, received over a long period of time, the City of Poughkeepsie desires to establish certain minimum standards for towing of vehicles from private property so that such towing may take place in a manner that is not abusive.
(b) 
Complaints to the City have continued despite the original enactment of this ordinance in 1994. The City has received ongoing complaints from consumers that insufficient signage is posted in parking lots indicating that vehicles would be towed if they were improperly parked or that towing personnel were abusive and unresponsive. The largest portion of these complaints concern the towing of motor vehicles from private parking lots serving stores and other business establishments. The City therefore desires to further regulate towing services and solicitation through licensing of towing businesses operating in the City for the purpose of safeguarding the public against fraud and abusive and improper towing practices since the towing of vehicles allegedly improperly parked on private property is a matter that affects the public interest, peace, health, safety, welfare and good order of the City of Poughkeepsie and its inhabitants.
(c) 
The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council finds that, since the original enactment of this ordinance in 1994 and its amendment in 2000, much of the aforesaid abusive and improper towing practices are now being pursued in connection with the immobilization of vehicles allegedly improperly parked on private property. The Common Council hereby finds that this is also a matter that affects the public interest, and the peace, health, safety, welfare and good order of the City of Poughkeepsie and its inhabitants.
(d) 
The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council finds that, as of August 2004, the abusive, unscrupulous and predatory practices referred to hereinabove continue, and that the provisions of this article have not proven to be sufficiently effective to provide adequate protection for the consumer against unscrupulous and abusive business practices and conduct by those engaged in the booting business. The Common Council finds that possibly the only legitimate purpose to be served by the practice of booting is to serve as a deterrent against improper parking on private property. It has come to the attention of the Common Council that it has become common practice to immobilize an allegedly improperly parked vehicle within moments of the vehicle's arrival at the scene. Appropriate business practices should include giving adequate warning to the general public of the consequence of improperly parking on private property, and giving an opportunity to promptly correct an otherwise innocent mistake. The Common Council hereby finds that the costs associated with booting are much lower than for towing and that the presently authorized fee is unduly and disproportionately punitive in comparison to the offense given: an authorized fee nearer to the fines imposed for improperly parking on public street will adequately compensate the parking facility operator while still providing an adequate deterrent to improper parking on private property. The Common Council hereby finds that, in order to properly protect the public health, safety and general welfare, it is necessary to strike an appropriate balance between private property interests and the public interest of protecting consumers from unscrupulous, abusive and predatory business practices.
[Ord. of 7-5-1994, § 1; Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 2; Ord. of 7-9-2001, § 1; Ord. of 6-10-2002, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1; L.L. No. 2-2005, 2-7-2005, § 1; Ord. No. O-10-36, 12-20-2010, § 4]
For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
BOOTING COMPANY or BOOTING OPERATOR
A person engaged in the business of immobilizing vehicles improperly parked on private property.
IMMOBILIZATION or BOOTING
The use of any method, manner, mode, device or artifice, whether or not affixed to a motor vehicle, with the intent to and which has the effect of preventing either the moving of a motor vehicle by its normal mode of operation or preventing the departure of the motor vehicle from the real property on which it is then located. For purposes of this article, the term "immobilization" shall be deemed to include the act of removing the immobilizing device or the discontinuance of the immobilization. The term "booting" shall be deemed equivalent to the term "immobilization." This term shall not apply to mechanical gates located at the entrance or exit of any lot.
OWNER
A person who owns, leases or has control of one or more tow trucks operating for hire within the City of Poughkeepsie.
PARKING LOT or PRIVATE PARKING FACILITY
A parcel of land or a portion of a parcel of land used for parking motor vehicles belonging to visitors, customers or residents of nearby businesses or properties, and/or parking for hire on a monthly or periodic basis.
PERSON
An individual, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association or any other entity.
PERSON IN CHARGE OF VEHICLE
The registered owner, or one who has legal authorization of the registered owner to operate such vehicle.
PRIVATE PARKING FACILITY OPERATOR
Any person or persons who own, lease or control one or more private parking facilities in the City of Poughkeepsie.
TOWING
The moving of a vehicle where a fee, charge or other consideration is directly or indirectly imposed for such moving or where the towing service is performed by a person engaged in the business of towing vehicles.
TOWING COMPANY or TOW OPERATOR
A person engaged in the business of offering towing services whereby motor vehicles are moved by use of a motor vehicle designated or adapted for that purpose.
TOWING LICENSE
A license issued pursuant to this section permitting a person to tow motor vehicles for hire from private property within the City of Poughkeepsie without the motor vehicle owner's consent.
TOW TRUCK
A vehicle used for towing usually equipped with a crane, winch, tow bar, push plate or other device designed to pull or push a vehicle or to raise a vehicle or the front or rear end thereof or a flatbed tow truck.
VEHICLE
A motor vehicle as defined in § 125 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, a tractor as defined in § 151-a of such law or a trailer as defined in § 156 of such law.
[L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1; amended 2-3-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-1]
The provisions contained within this article are applicable to the towing or immobilization of vehicles improperly parked on private property. The phrase "improperly parked on private property" means vehicles parked on private property without the consent of the owner or person in charge of the private property. Consent includes actual consent and consent created by operation of law.
[Ord. of 7-5-1994, § 1; Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 3; Ord. of 5-29-2001, § 2; Ord. of 7-9-2001, § 1; Ord. of 6-10-2002, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
In order to comply with Sections 13-311 and 13-314, all of the following requirements must be satisfied:
(1) 
Location and description of signs.
a. 
A warning sign must be conspicuously posted within 15 feet of each curb cut that gives vehicular access to the private property facing in each authorized direction of travel upon the abutting public highway. The bottom edge of each such sign must be not less than seven feet above grade level. Each of such warning signs must meet one of the two following descriptions as appropriate:
1. 
If the warning sign is located on property that is zoned under Chapter 19 of this Code as R-1, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-4A, R-5, R-6, PRD, O-R, or H-M, the said sign must be 24 inches high and 18 inches wide, surrounded by a black border 1/2 inch wide, and must exclusively contain the following content: the words "WARNING" and "PRIVATE PROPERTY" in all red, boldface, capital block letters 2 1/2 inches high upon a white background, a depiction in silhouette of a tow truck 4 1/2 inches high and the phrase "Unauthorized vehicles will be towed" in black block letters two inches high upon a white background, and the word "booted" must be added to or substituted for the word "towed" where appropriate;
2. 
If the warning sign is located on property that is zoned under Chapter 19 of this Code as C-1, C-2, C-2A, C-3, I-1, I-2, T, or W, the said sign must be 30 inches high and 24 inches wide, surrounded by a black border 1/2 inch wide, and must exclusively contain the following content: the words "WARNING" and "PRIVATE PROPERTY" in all red, boldface, capital block letters four inches high upon a white background, a depiction in silhouette of a tow truck six inches high, and the phrase "Unauthorized vehicles will be towed" in black block letters 2 1/2 inches high upon a white background, and the word "booted" must be added to or substituted for the word "towed" where appropriate; and
b. 
An informational sign not less than four square feet and not more than eight square feet that provides the following information in legible block letters:
1. 
In the case of towing, the name, street address and telephone number and the license number of the private parking facility operator and the tow operator, the street address where vehicles will be impounded, the method of redemption and hours of operation for vehicle redemption, towing and storage fees of the tow operator and the hours vehicles are prohibited from parking and subject to tow; or
2. 
In the case of booting, the name, address and telephone number and the license number of the private parking facility operator and the booting operator that has immobilized the vehicle, the method of obtaining removal of the immobilization device and the fee payable for removal, and the hours vehicles are prohibited from parking and subject to immobilization.
c. 
There need be only one such informational sign which must be posted on the private property in a conspicuous manner reasonably calculated to be visible to a person whose vehicle has been either towed or immobilized.
(2) 
The private parking facility operator shall also permit the placement on the private property of a sign, supplied and installed by the City of Poughkeepsie, to direct the public to the nearest municipal parking facility. The City of Poughkeepsie shall have the ability but not the duty or the obligation to install any such signs.
[Ord. of 7-5-1994, § 1; Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 4; L.L. No. 4-2001, § 1; Ord. of 3-26-2001, § 1; Ord. of 7-9-2001, § 1; Ord. of 6-10-2002, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1; Ord. No. O-10-36, 12-20-2010, §§ 1, 2, 5; 2-3-2020 by Ord. No. O-20-1]
(a) 
No private parking facility operator, owner or other person in control of private property shall tow or cause to be towed from or on such private property any motor vehicle unless such owner or person in control shall post and maintain upon such private property signs, in conformity with Section 13-310 of this chapter.
(b) 
No vehicle shall be towed by a tow operator from private property without express written authorization by the owner of the private property or the person in control of the private property, or his or her or its agent, who may not be the tow truck owner or operator or his/her agent or employee Such authorization shall be required for each vehicle towed and shall include the location, make, model, color and license plate number of the vehicle to be towed. The person who tows a vehicle and the person authorizing the tow shall maintain a copy of the written authorization provided for in this subsection for a period of not less than one year. Upon demand by the person in charge of a vehicle, the person proposing to undertake towing and the person authorizing the tow shall provide a copy of the written authorization provided for in this subsection to the person in charge of the vehicle proposed to be towed. No vehicle shall be towed by a tow operator without complying with the requirement for provision of a copy of the written authorization to the person in charge of the vehicle upon demand for a copy of the same by a person in charge of a vehicle.
(c) 
A vehicle may not be towed if it is occupied by any person.
(d) 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a vehicle which is towed shall be taken directly to a facility for storage maintained by the person undertaking the towing and which location is distant not more than three miles from the point of towing. Such facility for storage must be a secure place for safekeeping vehicles. The owner and operator of a licensed towing company shall cause the towing license to be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises of the towing company and shall also cause a copy of said license to be available for inspection in each towing vehicle used by the company.
(e) 
Any person who tows a vehicle covered by this article shall, within 30 minutes of the vehicle's arrival at a facility for storage, notify the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, identifying the storage facility, the location of the storage facility, the time the vehicle was towed, the location from which the vehicle was towed, the name of the person who authorized the towing and the fact that the towing was pursuant to a contract with the owner of the private property. The person who tows a vehicle and who notifies the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department as set forth above shall obtain the name of the person at the Police Department to whom such information was reported and shall note such name on a written record to be maintained by the person towing the vehicle, together with the time and date that the vehicle was towed.
(f) 
Except for tows authorized by the Police Department, it shall be unlawful for a towing company operator to tow a vehicle if the owner or operator of the vehicle appears at the scene prior to the vehicle being connected to any apparatus of the tow truck, requests the towing company operator not to tow the vehicle and is willing and able to correct the condition warranting the tow. The towing company operator shall be entitled to a hook-up fee not to exceed $25 if the vehicle is connected to any apparatus for towing, provided that the tow truck has not exited the premises and entered onto the public street. The tow truck operator shall not be permitted to charge any fee to the vehicle owner or operator unless the owner or operator is the one who requested the towing services. Each tow operator shall carry a legible copy of this section and shall show it to a vehicle owner or other person in control of the vehicle who arrives at the scene prior to the towing of a vehicle.
(g) 
The registered owner or other person in control of a vehicle that has been towed pursuant to this section shall have the right to inspect the vehicle before accepting its return. No release or waiver of any kind which would release the person or company towing the vehicle from liability for damages may be required from any such owner or other person in control as a condition of release of the vehicle to such a person. No release or waiver of any kind purporting to limit or avoid liability for damages to a vehicle that has been towed shall be valid. A detailed, signed receipt showing the legal name of the person or company towing the vehicle and the date and time the vehicle was towed must be given to the person paying the towing and storage charges at the time of payment.
(h) 
When an owner of private property, his or her agent as authorized by this section causes a vehicle to be towed in violation of this article, there shall be no charge to the owner or other person in control of the vehicle for the cost of towing and storage. A person who has violated this article shall be liable to the owner or other person in control of the vehicle for any amounts actually paid for towing, transportation and storage of the vehicle, as well as for any damage resulting from the towing, transportation and storage of the vehicle.
(i) 
No person may, under the authority of this article, cause the towing of any ambulance, police vehicle, fire vehicle, civil defense emergency vehicle or emergency ambulance service vehicle, or any vehicle being used by an emergency responder while engaged in such emergency response.
(j) 
Every tow operator shall maintain a written schedule of all rates and charges for towing and storage and shall make such schedule available to any person requesting the same. The maximum charge for towing of vehicles shall be $60, plus a hook-up fee of $25, plus any and all applicable taxes, except the maximum charge for towing of a vehicle in the following circumstances shall be $125, plus a hook-up fee of $25 plus any and all applicable taxes:
(1) 
The towing of a vehicle that has been continuously present on private property without the consent of the owner or person in charge of the private property for more than 24 hours; or
(2) 
The towing of a vehicle that has been parked on private property in a location that blocks a driveway, lane, alley or other place intended to give passage to other portions of the private property or to give passage to or from the public way; or
(3) 
The towing of a vehicle that has been parked on private property in a location and at a time that interferes with garbage or refuse collection; or
(4) 
The towing of a vehicle that interferes with snow removal; or
(5) 
The towing of a vehicle that interferes with paving or construction activities, provided that a twenty-four-hour notice has been given or conspicuously posted; except that the provisions of Section 13-311(c), (e) and (f) shall apply to any such towing.
(k) 
The maximum charge for the storage of towed motor vehicles shall be $50 per day, or each part thereof, to commence after the vehicle has been impounded on the premises for a period of 24 hours. No additional charges, including clerical, administrative or service fees, may be charged by the licensee.
(l) 
Every licensed towing company that requires payment by an owner of a towed vehicle of all or part of the towing and/or storage charges associated with the towing and/or storage of such owner's vehicle as a precondition to the release of such motor vehicle to such owner or his or her authorized representative, and that accepts checks, credit cards or debit cards as forms of payment in the ordinary course of business, must accept each of these forms of payment for such towing and/or storage charges.
(m) 
An owner of private property, his or her agent as designated in the contract with the tow operator or a tow operator contracting with such owner shall allow a waiting period of not less than 20 minutes between the arrival of a tow vehicle at the location from which a vehicle is to be towed and the physical actual connection of any apparatus to the vehicle to be towed for the purpose of commencing the towing. If the owner or other person in control of the vehicle arrives at the scene during this twenty-minute waiting period, such owner or person in control of the vehicle shall be allowed to drive the vehicle from the location without interference or charge.
(n) 
No person shall tow or cause to be towed a vehicle from private property from 9:00 p.m. each day until the following 5:00 a.m. Every tow operator shall make vehicles that have been towed available for redemption each day from 6:00 a.m. until the following 11:00 p.m.
(o) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13-311(n) above, a tow operator may tow vehicles between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. if such tow operator has an employee on the premises where the tow operator maintains impounded vehicles to make vehicles available for redemption during those hours.
[Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 5, Ord. of 7-9-2001, § 1; Ord. of 6-10-2002, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1; Ord. No. O-10-36, 12-20-2010, § 3]
(a) 
No person shall tow a vehicle from private property within the City of Poughkeepsie without the vehicle owner's consent without first having obtained a towing license. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any towing service whose business is based outside the City from applying for the same license herein required and obtaining said license under the same terms as a business located within the City. As used in this section, the terms "owner," "operator," and "applicant" shall be deemed to include the tow operator and every individual, officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, employee, contractor, subcontractor or agent of such tow operator.
(b) 
Application procedure; compliance with additional standards; inspections.
(1) 
An application for a towing license shall be submitted to the Chief of Police. The application shall be made on such form as the Chief of Police shall prescribe and soliciting such information as the Chief shall reasonably require, and must be accompanied by each of the following items:
a. 
Certificates of insurance for the following insurance coverage, naming the City as a certificate holder entitled to notice of cancellation or nonrenewal:
1. 
Public liability insurance for personal injury and property damage with an insurance carrier licensed to do business in the State of New York;
2. 
An auto garage keeper's legal liability policy covering fire, theft and property damage that will cover any vehicle towed, impounded or stored; and
3. 
Insurance policies as required by law under the Workers' Compensation Law (Chapter 41 of the Laws of 1914, as amended) and under the Disability Benefits Law (Chapter 600 of the Laws of 1949, as amended) for employees.
b. 
A statement from the Building Inspector or a certificate of occupancy in which the towing company is located and vehicles are to be stored that said locations and premises are in compliance with the municipality's building and zoning ordinances and a statement from the Fire Inspector that the premises are in compliance with all fire and safety codes.
c. 
Material identifying the applicant physically, two references for the applicant's good character and business responsibility and practices, and record of traffic infractions.
d. 
Payment of the fee required hereinafter.
(2) 
In the event that any of the information contained in the initial license application shall change, the tow operator shall, within 10 days of such change, make application to amend its license so as to reflect the accurate information.
(3) 
The Chief of Police shall make such investigation as (s)he deems appropriate as to the qualifications and background of the owner and the operator of the towing company.
(4) 
Upon receipt of an application for a towing company license, the Chief of police shall investigate the location of the towing company and of the premises where towed vehicles are to be stored, to determine whether public safety problems exist.
(c) 
The fee for a towing license shall be $250 per year or any fraction of a year for each towing company or tow operator. Payment of the fee shall be due upon application for the license. The fee for renewal or amendment of a towing license shall be $50 which shall be due upon application for such renewal or amendment. Such license fees shall be nonrefundable.
(d) 
The Chief of Police shall issue to a licensee a placard for each tow truck listed on his application that the licensee shall at all times prominently display on the right front dashboard of each tow truck so that it is visible through the front windshield of said vehicle. Said placard shall contain the New York State vehicle identification number of the vehicle, the license number assigned to the towing company or tow operator and such other information as the Chief of police shall determine advisable. Said placard shall not be transferable from one tow truck to another.
(e) 
On each side of every tow truck operated in the City by a licensee there shall be legibly inscribed the name and address of the licensee and the license number assigned by the Chief of Police.
(f) 
Denial, suspension or revocation of license. After a hearing held on not fewer than 10 days' notice to the licensee, given either in person or by registered mail, addressed to the licensee at the address shown upon the most recent application of the licensee, the Chief of Police may deny a license or deny the renewal of a license to any applicant, and may suspend or revoke the license of any licensee:
(1) 
Who does not comply with the provisions of this article or any rule or regulation promulgated under this article.
(2) 
Who makes a material misrepresentation on a license application or renewal thereof.
(3) 
When the Chief of Police, after investigation of the applicant or licensee, deems the owner or operator unfit to conduct such towing business, based upon the determination of one or more of the following findings:
a. 
Denial or revocation of a towing license by any municipality.
b. 
Record of two or more complaints or reports of fraudulent practices regarding the applicant's, owner's, licensee's or operator's business practices, including incompetence or gross negligence in the conduct of the business, abusive conduct to motor vehicle owners or operators, or damage to vehicles towed, substantiated by the Chief of Police or other law enforcement agency in a two-year period immediately preceding the application.
c. 
Record of one or more convictions or guilty pleas to violations of this article or any rule or regulation promulgated under this article or any other municipality's ordinance in a two-year period immediately preceding the application.
d. 
One or more violations of any provision of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law or any federal, state or local law, ordinance, rule or regulation regarding the operation of his/her towing business in the two-year period immediately preceding the application or investigation.
e. 
There exists one or more judgments against the applicant, owner or operator that have remained unsatisfied for more than 30 days after having been docketed in the Dutchess County Clerk's Office.
(g) 
A towing company license shall expire on December 31 of every year.
(h) 
A licensee shall submit to the Chief of Police an application for renewal not less than 30 days prior to the license expiration date.
(i) 
No license shall be transferred to another person or vehicle.
(j) 
The Chief of Police and only the Chief of Police may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, but the Chief of Police may delegate to his or her designee any other duty or function set forth hereunder.
(k) 
The failure to enforce any of the provisions of this article shall not be deemed a waiver thereof.
[Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 6; Ord. of 6-10-2002, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
(a) 
Each licensee shall be required to keep and maintain in each tow truck operated by the licensee a towing log book in which all towed vehicles from private property in the City shall be recorded. The log book shall be clearly marked on the outside cover "City of Poughkeepsie Log Book" and shall be exclusively utilized for vehicles towed pursuant to this article. Said log book shall be produced upon demand by any City of Poughkeepsie police officer.
(b) 
Each licensee shall record in the log book as to each and every vehicle towed:
(1) 
The date of towing;
(2) 
The property address from which the vehicle was towed and the property address to where the vehicle was towed and stored;
(3) 
The time the vehicle was observed parking and the time the vehicle was towed;
(4) 
The name of the private property owner or authorized agent requesting the tow and the time of said request;
(5) 
The make, model, color and license plate number of the vehicle;
(6) 
The amount, if any, received by the licensee for the towing and impoundment of the vehicle.
[Ord. of 10-23-2000, § 1; L.L. No. 8-2001, § 1; Ord. of 7-9-2001, § 1; Ord. of 6-10-2002, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
(a) 
No private parking facility operator, owner or other person in control of private property shall immobilize or cause to be immobilized upon such private property any motor vehicle unless such owner or person in control shall post and maintain upon such private property, signs in conformity with Section 13-310 of this chapter.
(b) 
A vehicle may not be immobilized if it is occupied by any person.
(c) 
No person may, under authority of this article, cause the immobilization of any ambulance, police vehicle, fire vehicle, civil defense emergency vehicle or emergency ambulance service vehicle, or any vehicle being used by an emergency responder while engaged in such emergency response.
(d) 
The provisions of Section 3-311(g) and (h) shall be applicable to the immobilization of vehicles in addition to the towing of vehicles.
(e) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to charge a fee in connection with the immobilization of a motor vehicle in excess of $25, plus any and all applicable taxes. No additional charges of any description may be charged in connection with such immobilization or release from immobilization. No fee shall be charged for immobilization if the immobilized vehicle is subsequently towed from the parking lot.
(f) 
No person shall affix, or cause to be affixed, an immobilization device to a vehicle sooner than five minutes after that vehicle has been improperly parked upon private property. If the owner or other person in control of the vehicle arrives at the scene prior to the time that the immobilization device is actually affixed to it, such owner or person in control of the vehicle shall be allowed to remove the vehicle from the private property without interference or charge.
[L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
(a) 
No person shall boot a vehicle on private property within the City of Poughkeepsie without first having obtained either a booting license as provided for in this section or a towing license as provided for in Section 13-312 of this chapter. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting any booting operator whose business is based outside the City from applying for the same license herein required and obtaining said license under the same terms as a business located within the City. As used in this section, the terms "owner," "operator," and "applicant" shall be deemed to include the booting operator and every individual, officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, employee, contractor, subcontractor or agent of such booting operator.
(b) 
Application procedure; compliance with additional standards; inspections.
(1) 
An application for a booting license shall be submitted to the Chief of Police. The application shall be made on such form as the Chief of Police shall prescribe and soliciting such information as the Chief shall reasonably require, and must be accompanied by each of the following items:
a. 
Certificates of insurance for the following insurance coverage, naming the City as a certificate holder entitled to notice of cancellation or nonrenewal:
1. 
Public liability insurance for personal injury and property damage with an insurance carrier licensed to do business in the State of New York covering fire, theft and property damage that will cover any vehicle booted; and
2. 
Insurance policies as required by law under the Workers' Compensation Law (Chapter 41 of the Laws of 1914, as amended) and under the Disability Benefits Law (Chapter 600 of the Laws of 1949, as amended) for employees.
b. 
Material identifying each applicant physically, two references for the applicant's good character and business responsibility and practices, and record of traffic infractions.
c. 
Payment of the fee required hereinafter.
(2) 
In the event that any of the information contained in the initial license application shall change, the booting operator shall, within 10 days of such change, make application to amend its license so as to reflect the accurate information.
(3) 
The Chief of Police shall make such investigation as (s)he deems appropriate as to the qualifications and background of the owner and the operator of the booting company.
(c) 
The fee for a booting license shall be $100 per year or any fraction of a year for each booting company or boot operator. Payment of the fee shall be due upon application for the license. The fee for renewal or amendment of a booting license shall be $50 which shall be due upon application for such renewal or amendment. Such license fees shall be nonrefundable.
(d) 
The Chief of Police shall issue to a licensee a placard for each vehicle used in the course of the licensee's booting operations listed on his application that the licensee shall at all times prominently display on the right front dashboard of each such vehicle so that it is visible through the front windshield of said vehicle. Said placard shall contain the New York State vehicle identification number of the vehicle, the license number assigned to the booting company or boot operator and such other information as the Chief of Police shall determine advisable. Said placard shall not be transferable from one such vehicle to another.
(e) 
On each side of every vehicle used in the course of the licensee's booting operations operated in the City there shall be legibly inscribed the name and address of the licensee and the license number assigned by the Chief of Police.
(f) 
Denial, suspension or revocation of license. After a hearing held on not fewer than 10 days' notice to the licensee, given either in person or by registered mail, addressed to the licensee at the address shown upon the most recent application of the licensee, the Chief of Police may deny a license or deny the renewal of a license to any applicant, and may suspend or revoke the license of any licensee:
(1) 
Who does not comply with the provisions of this article or any rule or regulation promulgated under this article.
(2) 
Who makes a material misrepresentation on a license application or renewal thereof.
(3) 
When the Chief of Police, after investigation of the applicant or licensee, deems the owner or operator unfit to conduct such booting business, based upon the determination of one or more of the following findings:
a. 
Denial or revocation of a booting or towing license by any municipality;
b. 
Record of two or more complaints or reports of fraudulent practices regarding the applicant's, owner's, licensee's or operator's business practices, including incompetence or gross negligence in the conduct of the business, abusive conduct to motor vehicle owners or operators, or damage to vehicles booted, substantiated by the Chief of Police or other law enforcement agency in a two-year period immediately preceding the application;
c. 
Record of one or more convictions or guilty pleas to violations of this article, any earlier version of this article regulating the booting of vehicles on private property, or any rule or regulation promulgated under this article or any other municipality's ordinance in a two-year period immediately preceding the application;
d. 
One or more violations of any provision of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law or any federal, state or local law, ordinance, rule or regulation regarding the operation of his/her booting business in the two-year period immediately preceding the application or investigation.
e. 
There exists one or more judgments against the applicant, owner or operator that have remained unsatisfied for more than 30 days after having been docketed in the Dutchess County Clerk's Office.
(g) 
A booting license shall expire on December 31 of every year.
(h) 
A licensee shall submit to the Chief of Police an application for renewal not less than 30 days prior to the license expiration date.
(i) 
No license shall be transferred to another person or vehicle.
(j) 
The Chief of Police and only the Chief of Police may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, but the Chief of Police may delegate to his or her designee any other duty or function set forth hereunder.
(k) 
The failure to enforce any of the provisions of this article shall not be deemed a waiver thereof.
[L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
(a) 
Each licensee shall be required to keep and maintain in each vehicle used in the course of booting operations by the licensee a booting log book in which all vehicles booted in the City shall be recorded. The log book shall be clearly marked on the outside cover "City of Poughkeepsie Booting Log Book" and shall be exclusively utilized for recording vehicles booted pursuant to this article. Said log book shall be produced upon demand by any City of Poughkeepsie police officer.
(b) 
Each licensee shall record in the log book as to each and every vehicle booted:
(1) 
The date of booting;
(2) 
The property address at which the vehicle was booted;
(3) 
The time the vehicle was observed parking and the time the vehicle was booted;
(4) 
The name of the private property owner or authorized agent requesting the boot and the time of said request;
(5) 
The make, model, color and license plate number of the vehicle;
(6) 
The amount, if any, received by the licensee for the booting of the vehicle.
[Ord. of 7-5-1994, § 1; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
(a) 
Penalties established.
(1) 
Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be punished as follows:
a. 
For the first violation, by a fine of $250.
b. 
For the second violation within a period of 24 months of the date of the first violation, by a fine of $500 or by imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both.
c. 
For any additional violations within a period of 24 months of the date of the first violation, by a fine of $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
(2) 
Any such violation shall be deemed an offense.
(b) 
In addition to the penalties hereinabove provided, the City of Poughkeepsie may institute any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate violations of this article or to prevent any illegal acts, conduct or business in violation of this article, including but not limited to requests for injunctive relief.
(c) 
Any person or party aggrieved by a violation of this article shall have a private right of action for damages or injunctive relief.
[Ord. of 3-26-2001,[1] § 2; L.L. No. 1-2005, 12-20-2004, § 1]
If any provision, paragraph, word, section or article of this chapter is invalidated by any court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions, paragraphs, words, sections and articles shall not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former §§ 13-316 through 13-321 as 13-317 through 13-322, respectively.