[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills 2-14-2006 by Ord. No.
2006:01.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parking — See Ch. 285.
Abandoned vehicles — See Ch. 401.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 405.
Impounded vehicles — See Ch. 409.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed
former Ch. 385, Towing, adopted by Ord. No. 2000:24, as amended.
[Amended 4-28-2009 by Ord. No. 2009:14; 12-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2019:71]
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to
provide criteria and standard operating procedures that are reasonable,
nonexclusionary and nondiscriminatory in the selection and use of
towing operators for nonconsensual towing, as defined in the Predatory
Towing Prevention Act, N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq. Towing operators will,
on a rotational basis, provide towing, repair and storage services
for vehicles that are abandoned, disabled, illegally parked or stolen,
involved in accidents and/or suspected or identified by the Township
as being involved in criminal activities or motor vehicle offenses.
The terms listed below shall be defined as follows
for the purposes of this chapter:
A vehicle that the owner or operator leaves on a public roadway,
and the owner or operator fails to notify the police and does not
attempt to repair and remove the same within a reasonable amount of
time.
A one-time fee per vehicle for the purpose of compensating
the licensee for inspecting the vehicle, allowing owners to retrieve
personal property from the vehicle, and for the preparation of additional
paperwork beyond the initial towing bill.
The removal and transportation of a vehicle from a highway,
street or other public or private road, parking area or from a storage
facility, but does not include recovery of a vehicle from a position
beyond the right-of-way or berm or recovery of a vehicle that is impaled
upon any other object within the right-of-way or berm.
A vehicle which has been abandoned, disabled, impounded or
otherwise rendered inoperable as a result of a mechanical failure,
involvement in an accident or which is required to be removed by the
police for any other reason. A vehicle, the location of which constitutes
a hazard to the motoring public, shall be deemed disabled for the
purposes of this chapter.
A storage facility that is not completely indoors and that
is secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier that is at least
six feet in height and is protected with on-site security. The facility
is to be lighted at night with continual or motion-detection-actuated
lighting. The facility must be capable of storing a minimum two complete
tractor-and-trailers.
Minor maintenance, such as changing a tire, supplying fuel
or water or jump starting of a vehicle with a registered gross weight
of 15,001 pounds or more.
A tow truck with dual wheels, capable of towing
large trucks and which shall meet the following minimum requirements
as set forth in the New Jersey State Police Application and Minimal
Requirements for Vehicular Towing:
Commercially manufactured wrecker and chassis:
26,001 pounds minimum gross vehicle weight (GVW).
Meeting state and federal DOT requirements governing
commercial motor vehicles.
Air brakes.
Air transfer system — means of controlling
the brakes of the towed vehicle.
Axle lift with minimal lift capacity of 25,000
pounds and tow capacity of 80,000 pounds.
Two safety chains, one-half-inch-by-ten-foot
alloy.
Two tow chains, five-eighths-inch-by-ten-foot
alloy.
Axle lift safety straps or equivalent retention
device.
Amber emergency lights with proper amber light
permit.
Two flood lights or work lights to the rear
of the wrecker.
Tow light bar or magnetic tow lights.
Two-way radio or cellular phone.
Assortment of wood blocks and boards.
Assortment of tools.
Flashlight.
T-Bolts/maxi release pins.
Angle iron.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguisher.
Broom and shovel.
Road flares, triangles or road cones.
The towing and/or removal of a vehicle with a registered
gross weight of 15,001 pounds or more.
The act of storing and confining a vehicle upon an order
of the Police Department at either the towing operator's storage facility
or at the Police Department impound location as a result of abandonment,
involvement in an accident or suspected criminal activity.
A storage facility that is completely indoors, having one
or more openings or storage bins for the storage of vehicles and that
is secured by a locking device on each bin or opening.
The additional work done at the scene by the tow truck operator
that is beyond that which is required to perform a basic tow or any
additional manpower needed to complete a recovery, winching or towing
of a vehicle. Labor charges for additional manpower shall be based
on a per-man, per-hour basis.
A vehicle leased by the towing operator, through a leasing
company, and showing the licensee on the registration as the owner
or lessee. If the registration is such that the lessee is not listed,
the towing operator will be required to show lease agreement.
A car carrier of the roll back or tilt type,
with dual wheels, capable of removing and transporting passenger cars
damage free and shall meet the following minimum requirements as set
forth in the New Jersey State Police Application and Minimal Requirements
for Vehicular Towing:
Light-duty flatbed shall meet the same requirement
as a light-duty wrecker plus the following requirements:
Commercially manufactured flatbed and chassis
of 14,500 pounds GVWR minimum.
Seventeen feet or longer hydraulically operated
slide back or tilt bed.
Three-eighths-inch-by-fifty-foot cable or OEM
specifications.
Four safety chains, three-eighths-inch-by-ten-foot
high test minimum.
One bridle chain high test with "J" and "T"
hooks and grab hooks.
One four-ton snatch block.
Assortment of wood blocks and boards.
Light-duty flatbeds shall have the following
equipment as specified by the Township:
Environmentally safe drying compound, minimum
of 50 pounds.
Minor maintenance, such as changing a tire, supplying fuel
or water or jump starting of a vehicle with a registered gross weight
of 15,000 pounds or less.
A tow truck with dual rear wheels, capable of
removing and transporting passenger cars damage-free and shall meet
the following minimum requirements as set forth in the New Jersey
State Police Application and Minimal Requirements for Vehicular Towing:
Minimum gross vehicle weight (GVW) commercially
manufactured wrecker and chassis of 10,000 pounds.
Dual rear wheels.
Minimum chassis lift/under-reach of 3,000 pounds.
Minimum winch capacity of 8,000 pounds.
Hydraulic-operated boom of 8,000 pounds minimum.
Cable size and length, 3/8 inch and 100 feet
or OEM specifications minimum.
Two safety chains, three-eighths-inch-by-ten-foot
high test.
Two tow chains, three-eighths-inch-by-ten-foot
high test with "J" and "T" hooks and grab hooks.
Wheel lift safety straps or equivalent retention
device.
One three-ton snatch block.
Trailer ball hitch attachment.
Motorcycle towing equipment.
Amber emergency lights with proper permit.
Two flood lights or work lights to the rear
of the wrecker.
Assortment of tools.
Jumper cables.
Flashlight, first aid kit, fire extinguisher.
Gas can.
Lug wrench and jack.
Broom and shovel.
Road flares, triangles or road cones.
Light-duty wreckers shall also have the following
equipment as specified by the Township:
Environmentally safe drying compound, minimum
of 50 pounds.
The towing and/or removal of a vehicle with a registered
gross weight of 15,000 pounds or less.
A storage facility that is not completely indoors and that
is secured by a permanent fence, wall or other man-made barrier that
is at least six feet in height and is protected with on-site security.
The facility is to be lighted at night with continual or motion-detection-actuated
lighting. The facility must be capable of storing a minimum of four
passenger-sized vehicles.
A person, firm, corporation, company, or partnership that
owns and/or operates a vehicle on the roads and highways within the
Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, which vehicle, by reason of being
abandoned, disabled or unlawfully on said roads, requires towing services.
As used in § 385-8 of this chapter shall mean personal property of the vehicle owner or operator that, if removed from the vehicle, does not detract from the salvageable value of the vehicle.
Service for all accidents, recovery, and winching incidents
for any vehicle weighing over 15,000 pounds GVW; removal of vehicle
from an off-road location to a towable position while preserving the
condition of the vehicle.
A tow truck with dual wheels, capable of recovering large
trucks and shall meet the following minimum requirements:
Commercially manufactured wrecker and chassis
26,001 pounds minimum gross vehicle weight (GVW).
Meeting state and federal DOT requirements governing
commercial motor vehicles.
Minimum gross combination weight rating (GCWR)
of 80,000 pounds.
Hydraulic-operated boom of 50,000 pounds minimum
or equivalent of a Holmes 750 Mechanical.
Minimum winch capacity of 50,000 pounds.
Minimum chassis lift/under-reach rated of 35,000
pounds.
Cable size and length: 5/8 inch and 200 feet
or OEM specifications minimum.
Air brakes.
Air transfer system.
Two safety chains, one-half-inch-by-ten-foot
Grade 10 alloy.
Two tow chains, one-half-inch-by-ten-foot Grade
10 alloy and four chain binders.
Four winching chains, one-half-inch-by-eight-foot
Grade 10 alloy.
Four tie-down chains, 5/16 inch by 10 feet and
four chain binders.
Two recovery straps, minimum of six inches by
20 feet.
Axle lift safety straps or equivalent retention
device.
Two scotch blocks or recovery stiff legs mounted
into body of the truck.
Two twelve-ton snatch blocks.
Amber lights with proper permit.
Two flood lights or work lights to the rear
of the wrecker.
Tow light bar or magnetic tow lights.
Assortment of wood blocks and boards.
Assortment of tools.
Flashlight.
T-Bolts/maxi release pins.
Hydraulic bottle jack.
Angle iron.
First aid kit.
Fire extinguisher.
Broom and shovel.
Road flares, triangles or road cones.
Environmentally safe drying compound, minimum
of 50 pounds.
Additional equipment, either owned or subcontracted:
Air cushion recovery system, including starter
cushions, with motor-driven air pump, with a lifting capacity of 100,000
pounds.
Semi-tractor with fifth wheel.
Lowboy or Landoll-type trailer with minimum
hauling capacity of 40,000 pounds.
Relief trailer or truck capable of transferring
loads off damaged trucks.
An approved Township wrecker service used to supplement the
needs of a wrecker service under extraordinary circumstance.
As used in the Fee Schedule, shall mean the total of the
basic towing service, excluding any mileage charge imposed by the
towing operator, for towing within the Township borders. Mileage charges,
if any, are only allowed for vehicles towed out of the Township at
the request of the vehicle owner.
A person, firm, corporation, company or partnership engaged
in the business of providing towing, road and storage services for
vehicles towed pursuant to this chapter.
A vehicle driven by mechanical power and employed for the
purpose of towing, transporting, conveying or removing any and all
kinds of vehicles or parts of vehicles which, by reason of being disabled,
abandoned or unlawfully on the roads, require towing and/or storage.
A device in, upon or by which a person or property is or
may be transported upon a highway, except devices moved by human power
or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or motorized bicycles.
Additional time a tow operator spends at the scene other
than the time required for the actual tow and/or recovery. Examples
of wait time may include but are not limited to EMS services which
must be performed and/or police investigations.
The process of moving a vehicle by the use of the tow cable
from a position that is not accessible for direct hook up by conventional
means for loading onto a tow vehicle. Winching shall not mean pulling
a vehicle onto a flatbed or carrier or lifting a vehicle with a conventional
tow truck.
A.
The Chief of Police or any member of the Police Department
designated by him is authorized to administer and enforce all provisions
of this chapter.
B.
Application procedures for police-initiated towing.
(1)
No towing operator shall participate in the police
towing rotational list within the Township without first submitting
an application for inclusion on the rotational duty list and receiving
written approval from the Chief of Police.
(2)
Application to participate in the rotational duty
list shall be made on the official application form available from
the Police Department and submitted, together with an application
fee in the amount of $50 payable to the Police Department.
(3)
The applicant shall complete a request for criminal
history form for each individual associated with the applicant who
will provide services pursuant to this chapter and shall submit the
form(s), along with a certified check or money order in the amount
of the current state rate for each form, made payable to NJSBI. The
request for criminal history forms shall be obtained from the Chief
of Police.
(4)
Applicants are required to comply with the requirements
of N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27-1.1 et seq. with regard
to affirmative action employment.
(5)
All rotational list approvals will be issued by the
Chief of Police under this chapter and shall remain valid for the
calendar year and shall expire on the 31st day of December next succeeding
the date of issuance unless sooner suspended or revoked by the Chief
as hereinafter provided. If, during the term of a towing operator’s
approval, the towing operator relocates its business, the towing operator
may request in writing to the Chief of Police that its rotational
list approval be transferred to the new business location. The Chief
of Police or his designee may approve such transfer if the new business
location satisfies all of the criteria required under this chapter.
The term of any such transfer approval shall expire on the date upon
which the towing operator’s approval would have expired had
no transfer occurred.[1]
[Amended 6-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007:17]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(6), regarding
the maximum number of listed towing operators, which immediately followed
this subsection, was repealed 4-28-2009 by Ord. No. 2009:14.
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall
be responsible for approving all applications by towing operators
for inclusion on the rotational list when the Chief determines that
the following requirements have been met by the applicant:
A.
All applicants shall have a storage facility, the address of which shall be the same as the business address on the application, which shall be within the Township boundaries. The storage facility shall accommodate a minimum of four medium-sized vehicles. The facility shall be lighted, and have a fenced, secure area as defined in § 385-2 of this chapter.
B.
All applicants doing heavy-duty towing and recovery shall have a storage facility, the address of which shall be the same as the business address on the application, which shall be within the Township boundaries. The storage facility shall accommodate a minimum of two complete tractor trailers. The facility shall be lighted, and have a fenced, secure area as defined in § 385-2 of this chapter.
C.
All towing operators must own or lease and have available at least one conventional tow truck and one flatbed truck, as defined in § 385-2, in addition to other equipment which is necessary for the safe performance of towing, emergency road and storage services. Only one company can utilize the same tow vehicles. There can be no common ownership or sharing of towing vehicles.
(1)
Each light-duty driver must obtain a Level 1, National
Driver Certification from a tow truck operator's course or equivalent.
New hires must obtain a certificate within nine months from the start
of employment. Certificates must be available for inspection.
(2)
The towing operator must provide a detailed listing
of the equipment to be utilized. The listing shall include the following
information:
(3)
All wreckers must be properly licensed and inspected
by the State of New Jersey having the necessary stickers affixed.
D.
All heavy-duty towing operators must own or lease and have available at least one conventional heavy-duty wrecker, as defined in § 385-2, in addition to other equipment which is necessary for the safe performance of towing, emergency road and storage services. Only one company can utilize the same tow vehicles. There can be no common ownership or sharing of towing vehicles.
(1)
Heavy-duty drivers must obtain a Level 2, National
Driver Certification from a tow truck operator's course or equivalent.
New hires must obtain a certificate within nine months from the start
of employment. Certificates must be available for inspection.
(2)
Heavy-duty tow operators must have available one employee
who has obtained a Level 3, National Driver Certification from a tow
truck operator's course or equivalent and have training from an industry-recognized
recovery course. Certificates must be available for inspection.
(3)
Heavy-duty drivers must have a CDL endorsement on
their license. When applicable they shall also have the following
endorsements for (H) hazardous material, (N) tanker vehicle and (T)
double/triple trailers. They must have proof of medical clearance
and medical card in possession.
(4)
The towing operator must provide a detailed listing
of the equipment to be utilized. The listing shall include the following
information:
(5)
All wreckers are to be properly licensed and inspected
by the State of New Jersey having the necessary stickers affixed.
E.
All towing operators' trucks must be equipped with
either two-way radios and/or mobile telephone communications equipment
with the ability to communicate with the towing operator's principal
place of business, including their garages and/or facilities, to ensure
the proper availability of services and equipment on behalf of the
Township and motorists.
F.
All towing operators' trucks shall be equipped with
brooms, shovels and other street sweeping equipment for the purpose
of clearing and removing debris off the roadways. Such trucks shall
also be equipped with but not limited to large plastic bags and a
minimum of 50 pounds of environmentally safe drying compound for the
purpose of absorbing and removing fluids that have discharged from
a damaged vehicle.
G.
All towing operators' wreckers and all other vehicles shall be owned or leased, as defined in § 385-2, in the towing operator's name and shall be properly licensed and registered with the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles. All towing operator vehicles shall display commercial license plates.
H.
The towing operator's company name, address and telephone
number(s) shall be prominently displayed on both sides of all wreckers
and other tow vehicles.
I.
All drivers of towing/wrecker vehicles shall have
the proper New Jersey driver's license or commercial driver's license
as may be appropriate.
J.
All drivers of towing/wrecker vehicles shall furnish
their social security number and necessary information needed to conduct
criminal background checks.
K.
At the time of the application or at any time a new
tow truck driver is added or assigned, the towing operator shall submit
to the Police Department the name, driver's license number, social
security number and date of birth of the tow truck driver prior to
the driver's operation of any tow truck pursuant to a Township Police
Department request. Fifty percent of all principals and employees
of the towing operators will be subject to random drug testing by
a controlled substance testing facility annually. The cost will be
borne by the towing operators.
L.
All drivers of towing/wrecker vehicles shall be required
to wear clothing upon which shall be contained the name of the business
and the name of the driver.
M.
Certificate of insurance. All towing operators shall
submit a certificate of insurance to the Chief of Police, quarterly,
which certificate shall name the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills
Police Department as additional insured. The certificate shall provide
evidence that the towing operator carries the following insurance
coverage:
(1)
Comprehensive general liability: a minimum amount
of $1,000,000 combined single limits.
(2)
Automobile liability: coverage in a minimum amount
of $50,000 combined single limits. Coverage shall include nonowned
and hired automobiles.
(3)
Insurance must also include adequate coverage to protect
the owners of private vehicles that are in the care, custody and control
of the towing operator. Said coverages must provide at least $10,000
in minimum coverage per vehicle for damages or losses arising out
of theft of the vehicle's contents, the vehicle itself or losses due
to fire or explosion.
(4)
Workers' compensation: coverage in accordance with
the statutory limits for each company, if more than one is owned.
N.
Indemnification. The towing operator agrees that,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, it shall indemnify, defend,
and hold harmless the Township from and against any and all:
(1)
Claims, suits, judgments and demands whatsoever, including,
without limitation, costs, litigation expenses, counsel fees and liabilities
with respect to injury to or death of any person or persons whatsoever;
and
(2)
Damage to property of any kind arising out of or caused
in whole or in part by the acts or omissions of the towing operator
or any other person directly or indirectly employed by the towing
operator while in the performance or rendering of any services pursuant
to this chapter.
O.
Information from the Better Business Bureau, Consumer
Affairs and similar sources can also be utilized for qualification
purposes.
P.
All towing/wrecker vehicles shall be equipped with
flashing amber lights. The lights shall be utilized in accordance
with the standards established in the amber light permit that is issued
separately for each towing/wrecker vehicle that is listed on the application
to participate in the rotational duty list as required in this section.
A.
All towing operators on the rotational duty service
list shall comply with all applicable zoning and land use ordinances
and/or property maintenance codes in effect within the Township.
B.
All vehicles towed under this chapter shall be taken
immediately to either the tower's listed storage facility or location
specified by the investigating officer at the scene or the vehicle's
owner with police approval.
(1)
Towing operators shall have available enclosed areas
with a telephone and rest room for the use of vehicle owners/operators
to arrange for transportation when necessary.
(2)
Towing operators shall provide access to vehicle owners/operators
for removal of a vehicle six days a week during normal business hours.
Business hours are set at 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday, and 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon Saturday. Storage fees shall
not be charged on days when a stored vehicle is not accessible to
the owner/operator.
(3)
All towing operators appointed to the rotational duty
list shall:
(b)
Maintain a record showing all vehicles impounded
at the request of the Police Department. Those vehicles may include
abandoned vehicles, recovered stolen vehicles, or vehicles held for
investigation by the Department. This record shall be made available
to any police officer for inspection upon request and shall contain
the following information:
[1]
The date, time, location and name of the wrecker
driver who towed the vehicle at the Department's request;
[2]
The physical location of the vehicle after being
towed;
[3]
Identification of the impounded vehicle after
being towed;
[4]
All charges relating to the vehicle after being
towed;
[5]
Identification of the police officer authorizing
release of an impounded vehicle, the employee that released the vehicle,
and the person to whom the vehicle is released.
(4)
All
towing companies shall be responsible for ensuring the proper and
safe storage of all motor vehicles pursuant to this chapter, and shall
be liable for any damage incurred by such motor vehicles while in
transit to or while stored in the storage facilities. All outside
storage facilities shall be secured and lighted.
[Added 12-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2019:71]
C.
At the time of removing any motor vehicle, the towing
operator shall remove debris or material that is in the area surrounding
the motor vehicle as a result of the incident that necessitated the
removal of the vehicle. The removal of debris shall be performed by
the towing operator without charge to the Township or the vehicle
owner or operator. The towing operator may also clean up all fluids
contained on a paved roadway that were discharged from the vehicle
to be removed. A one-time fee of $20 may be charged, plus the cost
of material used. If more than one bag of environmentally safe drying
compound is used, the towing operator may charge at the rate of $18
per fifty-pound bag. A towing service shall not be required to remove
any debris or material which may be hazardous, such as oil, gasoline,
kerosene or other petroleum or chemical products, or debris or material
which the service is not equipped to remove. If, at the time of vehicle
removal, a police officer is not present and a hazardous material
is involved, it shall be the tow operator's responsibility to notify
the Police Department immediately of the condition and its location.
D.
All towing operators serving on the rotational duty
service list must guarantee the availability of all services to the
Police Department seven days a week, 24 hours a day. A towing operator,
in this respect, shall immediately respond to any type of towing,
emergency road service or storage call with the appropriate vehicle
and/or equipment and shall arrive at the scene as soon as possible.
Failure to respond to the scene within 20 minutes after receipt of
telephone notification by the Police Department dispatcher/desk officer
shall be considered a breach of this chapter unless heavy or unusual
traffic conditions prevent a towing operator from responding within
this time frame. In the event that a towing operator fails to respond
within 20 minutes from the time of the call, the Police Department
reserves the right to contact the next available tow operator on the
rotational list.
E.
If the towing operator is wholly or partially unable
to respond due to failure of any equipment or personnel insufficiencies,
the towing operator will immediately notify the Police Department,
which will contact the next towing company in the rotation to handle
the request. If such an incident occurs, the towing operator will
furnish, in writing, within five business days, the details of the
circumstance which caused the failure to respond to the Township Police
Department's Traffic Section, which will make a determination if a
follow-up investigation and/or inspection of the tow operator's facility
and/or equipment is required.
F.
The Township reserves the right to contact other towing
operators, who may not be on the rotational list, in times of emergencies
and/or natural disasters.
G.
The owner of a vehicle to be towed under this chapter
shall have the right, if he/she so desires, and the investigating
officer approves, to designate a towing operator of his/her choice,
provided the response time of said towing operator is not greater
than 20 minutes. If the towing operator is not on the Township rotational
duty list, that operator is still responsible for clearing debris
from the scene.
H.
Employees of the towing operator, in responding to
a call, shall request and be afforded police assistance during the
course of providing towing, emergency road service or removal of abandoned
or accident vehicles.
I.
A towing operator shall not permit a vehicle to be
removed from the site of an accident, the scene of a crime, or any
other instance or situation without the prior approval of the investigating
officer at the scene.
J.
Any towing operator who tows an abandoned vehicle
from private property must notify the Police Department of the vehicle
information and where the vehicle was towed from. The Police Department
will check the vehicle through N.C.I.C.
A.
The fees set forth in the schedule below for towing
and storage rates are the maximum permitted charges that shall apply
to the towing and/or storage of all vehicles. Towing operators transporting
multiple vehicles at one time shall receive the applicable fees for
each vehicle transported.
[Amended 6-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007:17; 8-18-2009 by Ord. No.
2009:30; 12-17-2019 by Ord. No. 2019:71]
(1)
The following towing and storage fees shall
apply for passenger vehicles and other vehicles as indicated. Charges
for all trucks and recovery equipment are inclusive of the driver,
and there will be no separate charge for an operator that drives or
operates the truck or recovery equipment. After the first hour, all
hourly billable rates will be charged in half-hour increments. The
above fees are set forth in the New Jersey State Police schedule approved
by the Division of Law, State of New Jersey. These fees may be adjusted
from time to time by resolution of the Council of the Township of
Parsippany-Troy Hills, in accordance with revisions of the New Jersey
State Police fee schedule for these services:
|
Service
|
Fee
|
|---|---|
|
Base charge for towing
| |
|
Light duty hook-up (up to 10,000 pounds)
|
$150
|
|
Medium duty (10,001 to 16,000 pounds)
|
$250 per hour
|
|
Heavy duty (16,001 pounds and above)
|
$500 per hour
|
|
Decoupling fee (if tow is not performed)
|
Half of basic rate
|
|
Recovery/winching (in addition to towing: per truck including
driver)
| |
|
Light/medium duty
|
$350 per hour charged in half-hour
increments of $175 per 1/2 hour
|
|
Heavy duty
|
$600 per hour
|
|
Specialized recovery equipment
| |
|
Rotator/crane recovery unit
|
$1,200 per hour
|
|
Tractor with landoll trailer or detach trailer
|
$450 per hour
|
|
Tractor/transport hauler only
|
$250 per hour
|
|
Refrigerated trailer w/tractor
|
$450 per hour
|
|
Box trailer w/tractor
|
$400 per hour
|
|
Air cushion unit
|
$1,000 per hour
|
|
Light tower
|
$250 flat rate
|
|
Pallet jack
|
$200 flat rate
|
|
Rollers
|
$200 flat rate
|
|
Any other specialized equipment
|
$250 per hour
|
|
Loader/backhoe/telescopic handler/bulldozer/bobcat
|
$300 per hour, each
|
|
Forklift
|
$300 per hour
|
|
Dump truck/dump trailer with tractor
|
$350 per hour
|
|
Roll-off with container
|
$350 per hour plus disposal
|
|
Recovery supervisor vehicle
|
$150 per hour
|
|
Scene safety equipment, communication equipment,
traffic management equipment, etc.
|
$250 per hour, each type used
|
|
Recovery support vehicle/trailer/additional recovery
equipment
|
$350 per hour
|
|
Storage - billed per calendar day (inside rates twice outside
rates)
| |
|
Cars/light trucks: 10-foot by 20-foot space
|
$45 per day
|
|
Trucks (dual wheels)/single axle
|
$90 per day
|
|
Tractor/dump truck/tractor and trailer combo/trailer
|
$125 per unit per day
|
|
Buses
|
$150 per day
|
|
Roll-off
|
$125 per day for each
|
|
Cargo/accident debris/load storage/vehicle components
10-foot by 20-foot space
|
$45 per space used per day
|
|
Rental of any tow-company-supplied trailer post-incident
|
$500 per day
|
|
On-hook mileage
| |
|
Light duty
|
$6 per loaded mile
|
|
Medium/heavy duty
|
N/A
|
|
Road service
| |
|
Cars (light)
|
$125 per hour plus parts
|
|
Trucks (medium/heavy)
|
$175 per hour plus parts
|
|
Labor (all labor minimum of 1 hour)
| |
|
Accident minor clean-up and disposal of debris
|
$75 per hour plus absorbent materials
used
|
|
Recovery supervisor and/or Level III recovery specialist
(heavy duty)
|
$225 per hour (charge limited to
1 per incident)
|
|
Certified towing operator
|
$125 per hour per man
|
|
Manual laborers
|
$100 per hour per man
|
|
Additional services/notes
| |
|
Fuel/hazmat/cargo spills cleanup and disposal
|
Time and material
|
|
Hazmat and trash recovery
|
Surcharged 10%
|
|
Subcontractor mark-up
|
10%
|
|
Administrative charge only after 3rd visit to vehicle
|
$50, cars only
|
|
Administrative charge
|
$200 medium/heavy truck
|
|
After-hours release
|
$75
|
|
Notification documentation fee
|
$50
|
|
Tarping/wrapping vehicle
|
$90 per car; $250 per truck
|
|
Fuel surcharge
|
Reserve for future need
|
(2)
In the event that the towing operator has
been summoned by the Township for the purpose of towing an abandoned
vehicle, and if the owner or the operator appears on the scene before
the vehicle is hooked to a tow truck, then the towing operator will
make no charge in that instance.
(3)
Vehicles that are towed under this chapter
and that subsequently become the target of a police investigation
(criminal, fatal accident, etc.) and become the responsibility of
the Township to pay the tow charged, shall be charged at the current
rate for towing of Township-owned vehicles.
(4)
Storage fees start after the first 12 hours
of storage; that is, there shall be no charge for the first 12 hours
of storage. Thereafter, storage shall be charge on the basis of twenty-four-hour
periods. The fees set forth for storage are the maximum storage charges
per twenty-four-hour period, and same shall apply to a vehicle that
is stored as a result of accident, abandonment, repairs or suspected
criminal activity.
(5)
Road repair services. It shall be the responsibility
of the tow operator to first inform the owner/operator of the vehicle
in need of road repair services of the hourly labor rates set forth
herein and the estimated total cost for parts and/or materials, and
receive written consent from the owner/operator, prior to the performance
of such additional road repair service.
B.
The tow operator shall be responsible to provide all
motorists utilizing the tow operator's services with a written schedule
of fees, issued by and printed on Police Department stationery, which
lists in full the maximum fees to be charged for towing, road service,
and storage within the Township when the towing, road service, or
storage is initiated under this chapter. All towing vehicles must
carry a copy of the rate schedule. Towing operators shall not exceed
the maximum charges set forth on the fee schedule for towing and the
storage of vehicles regulated under this chapter.
C.
The towing operator shall be required to accept as
payment currency, and any credit or charge card that the operator
generally accepts during the normal course of business. Impounds must
be paid in cash.
D.
The towing operator shall, in no instance, request
payment from the Township for any services rendered to the owners
of private vehicles; except, however, in those cases where the Police
Department authorizes the removal of a Township-owned vehicle or a
vehicle that is related to criminal activity.
[Amended 4-28-2009 by Ord. No. 2009:14]
A.
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall be responsible
to establish towing operators' rotational duty lists, which may include
separate lists for light-duty and heavy-duty towing, following approval
of applications. He shall also be responsible for establishing towing
sections within the Township as necessary, the locations of which
shall be determined to provide the most rapid response by tow operators.
B.
The Police Department shall call the towers on each
rotational duty list in sequential order, as set forth by the Chief,
so that each towing operator will be given the opportunity to respond
to individual calls as received by the Police Department.
C.
The Police Department shall be authorized to call
the next towing operator on the rotational duty list should a towing
operator fail to respond to a call within 20 minutes.
A.
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to establish
rules and regulations for the supervision, operation, inspection,
safe operation of tow vehicles, retrieval of personal property by
vehicle owners, and subsequent applications for title to vehicles
that have been towed at the direction of the Police Department. The
rules and regulations shall be incorporated within the Police Department
policy titled "Wrecker Service Calls."
B.
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall have the
right, at all times, to inspect all towing vehicles and related equipment
used by tow operators performing services pursuant to this chapter.
C.
At any time, should the Chief, or his designee, determine
that the vehicles and/or equipment being used are unsafe, he shall
have the power and authority to direct the immediate correction or
repair of any automotive defect, malfunction or violation of motor
vehicle regulations within a specified period of time to be determined
by the Chief.
D.
The Chief of Police is authorized and empowered to
establish from time to time, and transmit to all towing operators
on the rotational duty list, such additional rules and regulations
not inconsistent herewith as may be reasonable and necessary to carry
out the provisions of this chapter, including a procedure to receive
complaints and resolve disputes arising from the towing and storage
of motor vehicles required by the Township without the consent of
the owner.
A.
The Chief of Police shall have the power to suspend
a towing operator from the rotational duty service list for a period
up to 30 days for failure to comply with any section of this chapter
or rule or regulation established under authority of the chapter.
A subsequent violation may result in the removal of a towing operator
from the rotational duty service list for up to 12 months, except
that a violation that is more than three-years-old shall not serve
as a basis for determining a subsequent offense.
[Amended 6-19-2007 by Ord. No. 2007:17]
B.
Failure to comply with applicable zoning, land use,
property maintenance codes, or any other local ordinances may subject
any towing operator to suspension from the rotational duty service
list upon request to the Chief of Police from the appropriate Construction
Code Official, Zoning Officer, Property Maintenance Officer, or other
Township official. Any towing operator suspended from the rotational
duty service list for violation of applicable zoning, land use, property
maintenance codes or any other local ordinances shall be indefinitely
suspended until corrections are made and approved by the applicable
Township official, and communicated to the Chief of Police in writing.
C.
The Chief of Police shall have the power to suspend
or remove a towing operator from the rotational duty service list
if that operator or any employee thereof has been convicted of a crime
of the fourth degree or higher in this or any other jurisdiction.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of
the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject
to the following:
(1)
For the first offense, a fine not to exceed $250 and
suspension from the rotational duty list for one month.
(2)
For the second offense, a fine not to exceed $500
and suspension from the rotational duty list for six months.
(3)
For the third offense, a fine not to exceed $1,000
and suspension from the rotational duty list for one year.
(4)
For the fourth offense, permanent revocation from
the rotational duty list.
B.
Each and every violation of this chapter and each
and every day that any violation shall continue shall be construed
as a separate and distinct violation.
C.
The Police Department is specifically designated as
the enforcement agency, which shall serve and execute process for
violations of this chapter in accordance with law.
