To qualify for inclusion on the list of towing operators, each applicant must meet the following minimum standards:
A. 
Minimum vehicle requirements.
(1) 
Every towing operator shall own or lease and have available to render services required by this chapter a minimum of one regular tow truck and one flatbed.
(2) 
Vehicle classes.
(a) 
Regular tow trucks 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.
B. 
Minimum equipment requirements.
(1) 
Every tow truck or flatbed shall be equipped with the following:
(a) 
At least one amber rotating beacon or strobe light mounted on the highest practical location of the vehicle, 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 on towed vehicles at night, red-colored, when other lights are 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 pry bar, 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 an accident 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 truck or flatbed shall comply with all 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 changes may be made in said vehicles or equipment unless prior written approval is obtained from the Township.
(3) 
Every tow truck or flatbed shall display the towing operator's license and shall have the name of the towing operator 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. The towing operator shall have available, at all times, a minimum of two persons to provide the services required by this chapter. All persons employed by towing operators 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 basic road services for disabled vehicles.
(2) 
Have a valid driver's license with no restrictions or endorsements other than a condition requiring the wearing of eyeglasses.
(3) 
Be mentally alert and present a neat appearance at all times.
(4) 
Obey all traffic laws and regulations.
(5) 
Be subject to inspection by the Chief of Police of the Township and shall be approved by the Chief prior to rendering any services pursuant to this chapter.
(6) 
Not have been convicted of a crime or had their driving privileges suspended or revoked within the past year.
D. 
Minimum storage requirements.
(1) 
Every tower operator shall maintain an inside building and outside secured storage facility meeting the following requirements:
(a) 
The storage facility shall be capable of storing a minimum of 125 passenger vehicles.
(b) 
The storage facility shall have at least 800 square feet of inside storage and provide twenty-four-hour security for the same for the storing of impounded vehicles involved in criminal matters. These vehicles may contain, or are themselves, evidence needed for potential criminal or civil cases. These vehicles shall not be removed from the safe and secure inside storage facility until written permission is obtained from the applicable Union County law enforcement agency.
(c) 
The location of the storage facility shall be either within the limits of the Township or within a four-mile radius of the Cranford Municipal Building, 8 Springfield Avenue, Cranford, New Jersey.
[Amended 11-12-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-13]
(d) 
The outdoor storage facility 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.
(e) 
The storage facility shall be in an area legally zoned for such use.
(f) 
The storage facility shall be available 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 applicant shall specify the hours on which the facility will be open on weekends.
(g) 
The towing operator shall have an employee on duty during all hours in which the storage facility is open.
(h) 
The towing operator shall not charge a release fee or other charge for releasing vehicles to their owners after normal business hours or on weekends.
(2) 
The applicant shall, with its application, submit proof of ownership or lease of its storage facilities.
(3) 
The towing operator shall be responsible for ensuring the proper and safe storage of all vehicles towed pursuant to this chapter. The towing operator shall be liable for any damage incurred by such vehicles while in transit to or while stored in the storage facilities.
E. 
General requirements.
(1) 
The storage facilities shall have proper sign identification upon the same and shall be kept clean so as to be reasonably accommodating to employees of the Cranford Police Department or others who may come upon said premises.
(2) 
The towing operator must not store vehicles towed for the Cranford Police Department on top of one another and must not park any said vehicles on public roadways or sidewalks or block any public roadways or sidewalks with said vehicles.
(3) 
All towing operators and their drivers shall be fully trained and knowledgeable in the operation of all required equipment and shall be subject to background investigations by the Cranford Police Department. Accordingly, the towing operator must submit a roster of all employees who will perform services under this chapter. The following information will be provided: name, address, date of birth, social security number, driver's license expiration date, type of license, signature of employee, and name and address of an individual to contact in case of an emergency. The towing operator must also supply photocopies of New Jersey commercial driver's licenses of all employees who will operate responding vehicles with the employee roster.
(4) 
All new employees shall be registered with the Cranford Township Police Department prior to performing any services under this contract. Information on employees shall be updated every 90 days in order to keep current with changes in personnel.
(5) 
All responding employees must possess a valid New Jersey commercial driver's license, with proper endorsements, necessary to legally tow all types of motor vehicles.
(6) 
The responding employee(s) must be equipped with and trained in the basic tools necessary to perform minor roadside repairs.
(7) 
The responding employee(s) must be equipped with and trained in the necessary tools and equipment to perform all facets of the safe and efficient removal of all types of motor vehicles under this chapter regardless of the physical condition of the vehicle.
(8) 
The responding employee(s) must be equipped with and trained in the necessary equipment needed to completely remove, and must remove, all debris from the scene of an accident.
(9) 
All responding employees must wear safety vests when engaged in the towing/repair of motor vehicles while on public roadways.
(10) 
All responding employees must present a neat appearance at all times in a uniform identifiable with the towing operator.
(11) 
All responding employees must follow the directions of the Cranford Police Department with regard to the preservation of evidence needed for potential criminal and civil cases. These vehicles shall be maintained in the safe and secure inside storage facility upon request.
(12) 
All drivers will relay information to the Cranford Police Department on the following: crime, disabled vehicles, accidents, disasters, etc.
(13) 
Tow truck drivers will request police assistance during the course of servicing when they find it necessary to turn around, back up, tow in the opposite direction, cross the median, etc.
(14) 
All towing operators must be available for service on a twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a-week basis without exception.
(15) 
In all dealings with the public in connection with this license to operate, the towing operator and its employees are expected always to act in a professional manner and at all times to be courteous and respectful toward members of the public as well as representatives from the Township of Cranford or other law enforcement agencies. While members of the public, especially those whose cars may have been towed or impounded, may at times resort to strong language, threats and unbecoming behavior toward the towing operator and its employees, the towing operator and its employees are expected to exercise restraint and not to respond in kind, and thereby reflect unfavorably on the Township of Cranford or the Cranford Police Department. No employee of the towing operator shall represent to any member of the public that he is an employee of the Township of Cranford. Reports of discourteous behavior by the towing operator or its employees which can be sustained and documented may be considered by the Township as sufficient cause for termination of the license.
(16) 
The towing operator will be responsible for all vehicles and contents in its custody that were towed off the roadway under the direction of the police.
(17) 
The towing operator will notify the Cranford Police Department Traffic Bureau on a monthly basis of its custody of any unclaimed vehicles.
(18) 
The towing operator will cooperate with other operators in the case of emergency services at the scene of accidents and/or disasters.
(19) 
The towing operator will dispatch, within the time permitted by this chapter, tow truck(s), when requested by the desk officer to respond to a police-requested call for service.
(20) 
The police officer investigating the incident is in complete charge of the incident scene, and all drivers shall comply with the officer's instructions.