For purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, and words
shall have the meanings given herein:
ABANDONED VEHICLE
A vehicle located on a public right-of-way not in operation
and with no operator or owner visible and as defined in Title 39 of
the Revised New Jersey Statutes.
BASIC TOW
Private property towing as defined in this section and other
ancillary services that include the following: arriving at the site
from which a motor vehicle is to be towed; 15 minutes' waiting
time; hooking the motor vehicle to, or loading a motor vehicle onto,
a tow truck; transporting a motor vehicle to a storage facility; unhooking
or unloading a motor vehicle from the tow truck; and situating the
vehicle in the space in which it is to be stored. "Basic tow" also
includes issuing documents for the release of a motor vehicle to its
owner or other person authorized to take the motor vehicle; issuing
an itemized bill; three trips to the motor vehicle in storage, which,
if applicable, include making a vehicle available to an insurance
appraiser or adjuster; issuing documents for the release of a motor
vehicle to its owner or other person authorized to take the motor
vehicle; and retrieving a motor vehicle from storage during the hours
in which the storage facility is open.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of Paterson City or his or her designee.
CITY
The City of Paterson, located in Passaic County, New Jersey.
DEBRIS
Includes but is not limited to glass, sheet metal, fiberglass,
fluids, tires, vehicle components, and other material that may normally
be associated with a motor vehicle accident.
DECOUPLING
Releasing a motor vehicle to its owner or operator when the
motor vehicle has been or is about to be, hooked to or lifted by a
tow truck, but before the motor vehicle having been moved or removed
from the property.
DISABLED VEHICLE
Any vehicle located on or along any public right-of-way,
not in operation and with no operator visible and/or not legally parked,
shall constitute an inoperable vehicle.
EXTENDED SITE CLEANUP
The removal of debris at the point of impact, as well as
along the path of pre-impact and/or post-impact, where vehicle disintegration
and/or other property damage occurred as a result of the motor vehicle
accident or incident and shall be included by the terms of the contract.
FULL-CAPACITY TOWER
A tower with the capability and equipment to handle all tows
regardless of class or weight of the vehicle.
IMPOUNDED VEHICLE
Any suspected stolen, unregistered, uninsured, unsafe vehicle
or any vehicle suspected of being involved in a criminal investigation
on which a hold has been placed by the Police Department.
LIMITED-CAPACITY TOWER
A tower with the capability and equipment to tow only medium-
and light-duty tows as further described throughout this chapter.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company, or organization of any kind.
REGISTRANT
An individual, organization, or other entity registered in
the State of New Jersey to operate a motor vehicle.
[Added 12-29-2021 by Ord.
No. 21-058]
STANDARD SITE CLEANUP
The amount of debris removal that should reasonably be anticipated
at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or incident. The standard
site cleanup is usually confined to the point of impact, the final
resting points of all vehicles, and the associated debris field. The
fee for this service shall be included in the removal/recovery fee
that is established by the terms of this contract.
TARPING
The covering of a motor vehicle to prevent weather damage.
TOW TRUCK
A motor vehicle equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings,
tilt-beds, or similar equipment designed for the towing or recovery
of motor vehicles. Any truck used in service for Paterson towing must
have adequately operating hydraulic equipment which meets current
industry standards.
TOWER
A person engaged in the business or offering the services
of a vehicle tower or towing service, whereby disabled motor vehicles
are towed or otherwise removed from the places where they are disabled,
impounded, or abandoned by use of a tower or truck so designed for
that purpose.
TOWING
The moving or removing from public or private property or
a storage facility by a motor vehicle or a consumer's motor vehicle
that is damaged as a result of an accident or otherwise disabled,
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.
VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle of any type or size, including but not
limited to passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, and other heavy vehicles
and equipment.
WAITING TIME
Any time a towing company spends at the site from which a
motor vehicle will be towed, during which the towing company is prevented
from performing any work by another individual, beyond the time included
as part of a basic tow.
WINCHING SERVICE
Any operation in which a vehicle is moved onto a roadway,
from a position off the roadway, or any other operation in which substantial
work is required to prepare a vehicle for normal towing. Winching
includes righting a motor vehicle that is on its side or upside down.
Winching is not the standard pulling of a vehicle onto a tilt-bed
carrier or lifting a vehicle with a conventional tow sling. Winching
shall be based upon each half-hour spent performing winching.
WINDOW WRAP
Any material used to cover motor vehicle windows that have
been damaged.