[G.O. No. 1576, § I]
The purpose of this chapter is to provide standards, regulations
and rates for police requested and non-preference vehicle towing and
storage services. The said services shall be provided under the supervision
of the Police Department of the Town of Westfield.
[G.O. No. 1576, § I; G.O. No. 1818, § II]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated.
(a)
AUTHORIZED TOWING OPERATOR — A towing operator who has applied
to the Chief of Police and is authorized to do police required towing
for the Westfield Police Department.
(b)
AUTOMOBILE/VEHICLE — A passenger or station wagon type automobile
owned or hired, and a motor vehicle with a pickup body, or delivery
sedan, a van, or a panel truck or a camper type vehicle used for recreational
purposes owned or hired.
(c)
BASIC TOWING SERVICE — The removal and transportation of an
automobile from a highway, street or other public or private road,
or a parking area, or from a storage facility, and any other services
normally incident thereto, but does not include recovery of an automobile
from a position beyond the right-of-way or berm, or from being impaled
upon any other object within the right-of-way or berm. Basic towing
service shall include vehicles involved in a motor vehicle accident,
recovered stolen vehicles, impounded vehicles, abandoned vehicles,
disabled vehicles and any other vehicle the police request be towed.
(d)
CRUISING — The operation of an unengaged tow truck along the
public streets in any fashion intended likely or calculated to solicit
business.
(e)
DAY RATE — Hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
(f)
INSIDE BUILDING — A vehicle storage facility that is completely
indoors, having one or more openings in the walls for storage and
removal of vehicles that is secured by a locking device on each opening.
(g)
LABOR — The recovery of an automobile from a position beyond
the right-of-way or berm, or from being impaled upon any other object
within the right-of-way or berm. Unreasonable delays at the scene
(waiting time) caused by the owner, driver or police shall also be
considered labor.
(h)
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT — An occurrence in which an automobile
comes in contact with any other object for which the automobile must
be towed or removed for placement in a storage facility. This includes
all situations which are accidental as to the owner or operator even
if they were caused by the intentional acts of a perpetrator such
as vandalism or fire.
(i)
OUTSIDE SECURED — An automobile storage facility that is not
indoors and is secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier
that is at least six feet high and is equipped with a passive alarm
system or a similar on-site security measure. The facility is to be
lighted at night.
(j)
OUTSIDE UNSECURED — An automobile storage facility that is
not indoors and is not secured by a fence, wall or other manmade barrier,
and all other storage facilities not defined above as "inside building"
or "outside secured".
(k)
OWNER — A person, firm, corporation or other entity who owns,
leases and/or operates, parks or abandons a vehicle on the roads and
highways within the Town of Westfield, which vehicle by reason of
being disabled or being unlawfully upon said roads requires towing
services.
(l)
STORAGE CHARGE — The maximum allowable amount to be charged
by a storage facility for a twenty-four-hour period or fraction thereof.
A new twenty-four-hour period begins at 12:01 a.m. Storage charges
shall commence 24 hours after the vehicle was towed.
(m)
TOWING OPERATOR — A person, firm, corporation or other entity
engaged in the business of providing tow truck services and storage
services for vehicles towed, which services are made available to
the general public.
(n)
TOW VEHICLE (TOW TRUCK) — Those vehicles equipped with a boom
or booms, winches, slings, tilt beds, wheel lifts or underreach equipment
specifically designed by its manufacturer for the removal or transport
of automobiles.
(o)
TOW VEHICLES BASE OF SERVICE — Towing operator's principal
place of business where the tow vehicle is stationed when not in use.
(p)
Authorized Tow Operators must accept all forms of payment including
credit cards, checks and any other legal form of payment.
(q)
Upon the request of the Chief of Police or his designee, Authorized
Tow Operators shall produce copies of towing invoices for any and/or
all Authorized Police Tows.
[G.O. No. 1576, § I]
(a)
Equipment requirements. No towing operator shall tow for the Westfield
Police Department who does not own, lease or obtain, for utilization
in his or its business, the following equipment. Such equipment shall
be inspected by the Chief of Police or his authorized representative.
(1)
One heavy duty wrecker.
(2)
One flat bed.
(3)
Equipment available to remove disabled or abandoned motor vehicles,
motorcycles and mopeds with or without wheels and totally inoperable
motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds.
(4)
Safety equipment to be carried on all trucks shall include universal
towing sling; except flatbeds, hooks and chains; one snatch block
for three-eighths to one-half inch cable; two high-test safety chains;
auxiliary safety light kit to place on rear of towed vehicle; four-lamp
or three-lamp revolving amber light or lamp bars; toolbox with assortment
of hand tools; rear working lights and rear marker lights; cab lights;
body-clearing lights located to clear towed vehicle; blocking choke
for wrecker while working; safety cones; shovel; broom; steering wheel
lock or tie down; two-way radio communication system; service availability
on a twenty-four hour seven day a week basis.
(5)
All tow trucks must be properly registered, insured and inspected
pursuant to laws of the State of New Jersey. Automobile liability
insurance in the amount of not less than $1,000,000 for any one claimant
and $2,000,000 for more than one claimant and $1,000,000 coverage
for property damage for any one event with such policies endorsed
to provide collision coverage for vehicles in tow and naming the Town
of Westfield as an additional insured.
(6)
All tow trucks must be properly lettered on both sides as provided
by law.
(7)
All tow trucks will be maintained and operated in accordance
with all existing traffic regulations, and in a safe and prudent manner.
(8)
Towing operators and/or 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, etc. if any of the
above maneuvers would constitute a hazard to the motoring public.
(9)
All towing operators shall provide proof of workers compensation
insurance as required by statute.
(10)
All towing operators shall have garage keepers liability insurance
coverage in an amount not less than $60,000 per location and not less
than $1,000,000 combined single limit naming the Town of Westfield
as an additional insured.
(11)
Towing operators insurance coverage as aforesaid shall be by
insurance carriers authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey
and shall include a provision requiring notification regarding any
policy cancellation, revision or interruption of coverages.
(b)
Other facilities. Each towing operator shall tow and store impounded
vehicles involved in criminal matters to the Department of Public
Works Building located at 959 North Avenue, West, Westfield, New Jersey.
(c)
General area. The towing operator shall provide an outside secured
storage yard, fenced and secured, and large enough to accommodate
at least 10 automobiles.
(d)
General standards.
(1)
The storage facilities shall have proper sign identification
in a prominent location on the fencing of the storage area adjacent
to the entry gate and in the principal office of the towing operator
where the general public is admitted, showing the hours when the automobile
may be released, such hours to be subject to the approval of the Chief
of Police, with a minimum of 10 hours per day, and six days a week,
excluding Sundays and holidays, as well as the schedule of fees for
towing and daily storage rates. A business card will be supplied by
the towing operator to the owner or driver at the scene stating business
address and hours.
(2)
All towing operators and their drivers shall be fully trained
and knowledgeable in the operation of required equipment.
(3)
All drivers will relay information as soon as possible to the
police on all crimes, disabled vehicles, accidents, disasters, etc.
(4)
Towing operator employees who drive vehicles on the Town roads
or highways traversing said Town, must have a proper valid New Jersey
drivers license, they shall be of good moral character, mentally alert,
and present a neat appearance at all times. Disqualification shall
occur for any towing operator or employee who has been convicted of
a crime unless said criminal conviction is waived by the Chief of
Police for cause. Application for consideration as a towing operator
means such towing operator and his employees have consented to a background
criminal check by the Westfield Police Department and a satisfactory
Better Business Service Bureau report. Any false or misleading information
that is presented on any application shall result in immediate disqualification
of the towing operator.
(5)
The towing operator on duty must have any and all equipment
which may be required to be available and ready to respond to a call
within 15 minutes. The Chief of Police shall be the sole arbitrator
as to compliance with the required response times.
(6)
It shall be the obligation of the towing operator to immediately
notify the police in the event that said towing operator is wholly
or partially not operational due to mechanical failure or personnel
insufficiency. Upon such notification the police may use another police
towing operator who is authorized by the Chief of Police.
(7)
Towing operators will not respond to or stop at any accident
scene unless directed by the police, unless it is to notify the police
of an emergency. This stop shall not give tower a right to tow without
police permission.
(8)
Towing operators will be responsible for all vehicles and contents
in their custody, that was towed off the roadway under the direction
of the police.
(9)
Towing operators will notify the police on a weekly basis if
they are in custody of any unclaimed automobiles.
(10)
Towing operators will cooperate with other operators in the
case of emergency services at the scene of accidents and/or disasters.
(11)
No vehicle will be removed from the Town roads or highways traversing
said Town without proper authorization from the police at the scene,
or owner as the case may be.
(12)
All vehicles impounded or confiscated, will not be released
without proper authorization from the Police Department.
(13)
All disputes between towing operators and the public at the
scene and/or owners will be reported to the Chief of Police, or his
designee, who will act as a mediator and attempt to resolve their
differences in a civil and lawful manner. No driver or a towing operator
will create a disturbance on the highway, nor will any police officer
or desk officer be called to referee any disagreement.
(14)
The police officer investigating the incident is in complete
charge of the incident scene, and all towing operators and their employees
shall comply with the officer's instructions.
(15)
The police shall in no way be liable to towing operators for
any services whatsoever, which may be rendered to motor vehicles,
and the towing operator will look to the driver or last registered
owner of such vehicles for compensation.
(16)
All towing operators, to the degree possible, shall be located
in the Town of Westfield or other municipalities with a distance of
two miles thereof in order to ensure response within 15 minutes to
calls, as needed.
(17)
In the event that the owner or operator of an automobile requests
the services of a particular towing operator, whether or not such
operator is an authorized police towing operator, or whether or not
the towing operator is scheduled to respond to the call, the police
shall give preference to the towing operator selected by the owner
under the following conditions: (a) the vehicle is not a hazard or
in a hazardous position, which can be determined by the police and/or
fire officer in charge at the scene; (b) the vehicle does not disrupt
the flow of normal traffic and can be removed within a reasonable
amount of time determined by the officer in charge at the scene.
(18)
All fees for towing and/or storage hereunder shall be paid for and collected from the owner operator or other person responsible for the towed automobile by the towing operator. Except as provided for herein in Section 19A-5(k) the Town of Westfield shall not have any financial responsibility for any towed automobile.
(19)
Towing operators shall provide proof of ownership or lease of
all storage facilities and shall provide proof that such facilities
are legally zoned for storage use.
[G.O. No. 1576, § I]
In order to assure provision of safe and efficient towing service
which shall constitute licensing by the Westfield Police Department,
all qualified operators pursuant to this Chapter, with the approval
of the Chief of Police, shall be allowed to tow for the Westfield
Police Department as follows:
(a)
Each towing operator shall be placed on a rotational list as complied
by the Chief of Police of the Town of Westfield. Such towing operators
shall be called upon to respond to the needs of the Police Department
of the Town of Westfield on a daily rotational basis, except as provided
herein.
[G.O. No. 1576, § I]
(a)
No towing operator shall engage in cruising as defined in this chapter.
(b)
No towing operator shall solicit or attempt to divert patrons of
another towing operator, nor shall a towing operator solicit or divert
prospective patrons of a given repair service to any other repair
service nor shall any police officer designate or suggest any towing
operator to perform service.
(c)
No flashing lights or siren shall be used by a towing operator except
as granted by the Chief of Police in and/or under the provision of
N.J.S.A. 39:3-1 et seq.
(d)
The governing body hereby designates the Police Department generally,
its specific designee and the Chief of Police particularly, as the
supervising authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter as
well as the rules and regulations adopted hereunder the ultimate authority
vesting in the Town Council of the Town of Westfield.
(e)
Prior to the end of the year in the month of December, each towing
operator authorized to tow for the Police Department shall be inspected
for fitness hereunder by a representative of the Police Department.
(f)
Each towing operator on duty shall maintain and carry the necessary
equipment to remove disabled or locked automobiles, or equipment necessary
to operate or open automobiles to enable public safety personnel to
remove entrapped passengers.
(g)
Each towing operator, prior to departure from the scene of towing
services, shall clean and clear the streets of any customary debris
resulting from any accident at such scene and shall at all times carry
the necessary equipment to perform such cleaning services.
(h)
Refusal to tow at the scene of the incident shall be reported by
the police officer assigned to the incident to his supervisor. The
supervisor shall respond to the scene and if unable to correct the
situation will file a written report with the Chief of Police.
(i)
Towing operators shall arrive at the scene to which dispatched within
a reasonable time after being dispatched. Under normal circumstances,
such reasonable time limit is defined as within 15 minutes. The Police
Department shall reserve the right to obtain the services of another
authorized towing operator required for failure to respond in the
required time, equipment or failure to meet the provisions of said
chapter.
(j)
Where no storage designation by an owner or police has been made,
authorized towing operators are authorized to remove the automobile
to the towing operator's outside secured area.
(k)
Where automobiles are towed to premises controlled by the Police
Department for the purpose of utilizing the vehicles or its contents
as evidence, or for other purposes, such vehicle shall not be released
from police custody without prior written consent of the Police Department
and shall not be released unless the owner of the vehicle furnishes
the Police Department with a receipt that towing service fees have
been paid.
When, in fact, an automobile is released by police without the
proper receipt, the towing operator shall first make every reasonable
effort to collect its towing fee from the automobile owner or operator
and if no payment has been made after proof or reasonable effort,
the Town of Westfield shall be responsible for said charges but may
pursue its remedy against said owner, driver or other person responsible.
(l)
No authorized police towing operator shall employ, directly or indirectly,
any sworn officers of the Town of Westfield.
(m)
The towing contractor shall be solely responsible for all acts of
omissions of its employees and shall indemnify and hold the Town of
Westfield harmless in connection with same. All such employees shall
be deemed not to be employed by or represent the Town of Westfield.
(n)
Such additional rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the
Town Council pursuant to this chapter shall take effect after notification
of such rules and regulations upon all authorized police towing operators.
Service shall be made by hand delivering to the authorized towing
operator or his designee.
[G.O. No. 1576, § I]
The Chief of Police shall have the right to suspend any towing
operator authorized to do police towing under this chapter for good
cause upon written complaint of the Administrative Captain of the
Town of Westfield Police Department following his determination that
there is probable cause for suspension based upon violation of this
chapter. Written notice of such complaint and the basis of the complaint
shall be given to the towing operator, and said towing operator shall
be entitled to a hearing before the Chief of Police decides there
shall have been violations he may then suspend said towing operator.
In addition to any suspensions, if a violation of N.J.A.C. 11:3-38
et seq. has occurred, the Westfield Police Department will notify
the New Jersey Department of Insurance of Violation.
[G.O. No. 1576, § I; G.O. No. 1706, § I;
G.O. No. 1818, § I; 5-10-2022 by G.O. No. 2022-13]
The rates charged for basic towing services, storage and labor
shall be in accordance with the schedule established herein and shall
be kept on file in the Police Department and shall be available for
inspection by the public.
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Towing:
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Class I vehicles, passenger and commercial up to 6,999 lbs.
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Weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. using a conventional wrecker
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$100
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Weekends and holidays 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. using a conventional
wrecker
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$110
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Flatbed truck, all hours
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$125
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No mileage charge for Class I or II vehicles if the vehicle
is towed to a location within the Town of Westfield or back to the
duty tow's yard, regardless of location
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Vehicles towed to locations other than above
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$6 per mile or fraction thereof from pickup point
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Fees for towing Police Department vehicles shall not exceed
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$50
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Commercial vehicles Class II, 7,000 to 14,999 lbs.
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$200
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Commercial vehicles Class III, 15,000 lbs. and up
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$350 per hour
$450 with trailer
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Trucks and trailers
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No mileage charge
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Vehicle classification will be determined by the registered
gross weight
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Road Service Charge: (All hours)
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Out of fuel (plus charge for fuel)
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$75
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Battery jump
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$75
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Changing of flat tire
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$75
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Separation charge
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$75
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Drop drive shaft
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$75
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Release air brake
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$75
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Storage: (Commencing 24 hours after the vehicle was towed)
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Class I vehicles per day
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$45
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Class II vehicles per day
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$50
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Class III vehicles per day
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$100
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Inside storage
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Add $10 per day
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Miscellaneous:
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Waiting time at scene (per minute) commencing 15 minutes after
arrival on scene
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$1
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Winching service, up to 50 feet
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$75
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In excess of 50 feet (per foot)
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$2.50
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Rollover charges (to bring a vehicle back onto its wheels)
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$100
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Administration fees for "paper work" or "yard charges" relating
to the retrieval of a motor vehicle in storage are prohibited
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—
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No towing operators shall charge an additional fee when a towed
vehicle is being picked up by an owner/driver or other tow operator
or for services such as moving motor vehicles to get to the vehicle
in question, towing from the operators property to the street and
other such towing operations.
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[G.O. No. 1576, § I]
These requirements shall not apply to the towing of heavy vehicles
which require special equipment. The police shall use the tow service
of those operators who have the equipment to handle a heavy tow when
there is a requirement for such tow.
