[Adopted 11-10-2016 by Ord. No. MC 3591]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BASIC TOWING SERVICE
"Towing" as defined in this section and other ancillary services as may be specified by the Director by regulation.
CONSUMER
A natural person.
DECOUPLING FEE
A charge by a towing company for releasing a motor vehicle to its owner or operator when the vehicle has been, or is about to be, hooked or lifted by a tower, but prior to the vehicle actually having been moved or removed from the property.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, excepting such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks and motorized bicycles, motorized scooters, motorized wheelchairs and motorized skateboards.
NONCONSENSUAL TOWING
The towing of a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or operator of the vehicle.
PERSON
An individual, a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or any other business entity.
PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER
The owner or lessee of private property, or an agent of such owner or lessee, but shall not include a private property towing company acting as an agent of such owner or lessee.
PRIVATE PROPERTY TOWING
The nonconsensual towing from private property or from a storage facility by a motor vehicle of a consumer's motor vehicle that is parked illegally, parked during a time at which such parking is not permitted, or otherwise parked without authorization, or the immobilization of or preparation for moving or removing of such motor vehicle, for which a service charge is made, either directly or indirectly.
TOWING
The moving or removing from public or private property or from a storage facility by a motor vehicle of a consumer's motor vehicle that is damaged as a result of an accident or otherwise disabled, is recovered after being stolen, or is parked illegally or otherwise without authorization, parked during a time at which such parking is not permitted, or otherwise parked without authorization, or the immobilization of or preparation for moving or removing of such motor vehicle, for which a service charge is made, either directly or indirectly. Dues or other charges of clubs or associations which provide towing services to club or association members shall not be considered a service charge for purposes of this definition.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL
An employee of the Township of Irvington who is authorized by the Township to tow vehicles within the Township of Irvington for purposes of this article only.
TOWNSHIP TOWING COMPANY
The towing company that has a current municipal contract with the Township of Irvington to tow motor vehicles within the Township of Irvington.
VEHICLE
Any device in, upon or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway.
If a property owner wants an unauthorized vehicle towed from their property they must call the Irvington Department of Public Safety and request that an officer come out to tow the vehicle. The only person that can request a tow is the property owner and/or a Township official, not a tenant or visitor. Also the person requesting the tow must show photo identification and provide their full name, address, phone number and e-mail address to the police officer responding to the call.
The towing of a vehicle can only be authorized by the following:
A. 
The property owner who states that the vehicle was parked on their property without permission and/or consent.
B. 
A Township official who determines that the vehicle presents a public safety hazard (harboring or infested with rodents, vermin, animals, insects, etc., or remitting toxic fumes/chemicals into the environment) or nuisance.
If it is determined by an officer of the Irvington Department of Public Safety that the motor vehicle is unauthorized and prohibited from parking on the property owner's property, then:
A. 
The motor vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense;
B. 
The name, address, and telephone number of the towing company that will perform the towing shall be provided;
C. 
The charges for the towing and storage of towed motor vehicles will be charged to the owner of the motor vehicle;
D. 
The street address of the storage facility where the towed vehicles can be redeemed after payment of the posted charges and the times during which the vehicle may be redeemed shall be provided.
Every towing company that performs private property or other nonconsensual towing shall retain and make available for inspection by the Division for a period of three years, invoices, job orders, logs, claims for reimbursement from insurance companies and other documentation relating to all consensual and nonconsensual towing services performed and rates charged for the services.