It is hereby declared and found that it is of vital importance to the traveling public that disabled vehicles are removed from the streets as promptly as possible; that any delay in such removal may result in retarding the movement of traffic unnecessarily and may cause street accidents; that the towing of motor vehicles from public and private property within the Village is a matter affecting the public interest and, consequently, should be subject to supervision and administrative control for the purpose of safeguarding the public against fraud and the imposition of exorbitant towing charges or any similar abuse; and that it is in the best interests of the Village to have such supervision and administrative control centralized and uniformly administered within the Town of Oyster Bay by the Town of Oyster Bay.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Sea Cliff 1-13-2025 by L.L. No. 1-2025.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 135, Wreckers and Tow Trucks, adopted 9-17-1979 by L.L. No. 18-1979.
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows:
Any person driving a tow truck for hire within the Village.
The control and direction of the use of a vehicle for towing to, from or through places within the Village.
To approach with a request or plea and/or to try to obtain by asking.
The moving or removing of a disabled or abandoned motor vehicle by another vehicle for hire.
A license issued by the Town authorizing a person to operate a vehicle as a tow truck.
A vehicle for hire, equipped with a crane, winch or similar device designated and/or designed to push, pull or raise a disabled or inoperable vehicle and remove same from the place where it is disabled. The following shall not be considered tow trucks:
Vehicles of a governmental agency.
Vehicles used exclusively for towing disabled or inoperable vehicles that are owned, leased or operated by the owner or lessee of the towing vehicle or by a person affiliated with the owner or lessee of the towing vehicle and which towing vehicle has legibly inscribed on each of its sides, in letters no less than three inches high, the legend "Not for Public Hire."
The Town of Oyster Bay.
The Village of Sea Cliff.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any tow truck owned or controlled by such person or to permit the same to be operated within the Village without first having obtained and then having in force a towing license therefor issued by the Town.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a tow truck for hire within the Village as a driver or in connection therewith unless such driver shall first have obtained and then have in force a license issued by the Town.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any tow truck for hire within the Village as a driver or in any other capacity unless such operation is performed in such manner and under such circumstances as would be lawful if it were conducted in an unincorporated area of the Town.
D.
Where without solicitation the owner of a car shall specifically request that the same be towed by a person who has not obtained a towing license from the Town, no such license shall be required.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any operator, driver or other occupant of a tow truck to drive along any public street and to solicit towing work or to solicit towing work in any public place in the Village.
B.
It shall be unlawful for any operator, driver or other occupant of a tow truck to solicit towing work while parked or standing on any public street.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any tow truck operator, driver or other occupant to stop, stand or park at the scene of an accident or a disabled or abandoned motor vehicle without lawfully having been requested or notified by the police to do so pursuant to the rotation system adopted by the town. Responding to a call upon notification from gas station attendants, taxicab drivers or other persons not authorized in accordance with said rotation system to provide such notification shall be in violation of this section.
No fee shall be charged, either directly or indirectly, for making an estimate for repairs on any motor vehicle involved in an accident or otherwise disabled, without the prior written agreement of the owner of the disabled vehicle. A written agreement for repairs shall be in the form as required by the Town. All other provisions of the Town Code of Ordinances or successor legislation thereto, relating to repair agreements, repair charges, towing bills and excess charges, shall also apply.
Rates and charges for towing and storage shall be in accordance with the owner’s schedule as filed with the Town Clerk.