[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Great
Neck 3-2-1993 by L.L. No. 1-1993 (Ch.
195 of the 1976 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 2-4-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
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 North Hempstead by the Town of North Hempstead.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, for the purposes of this chapter,
the following words shall have the meanings herein indicated:
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.
A person owning, leasing or controlling one or more tow trucks or
driving, operating or causing any such vehicle to be operated for hire within
the Village.
An individual, partnership, corporation, association or other entity.
To entreat, to approach with a request or plea, to strongly urge,
to accost or to try to obtain by asking.
The moving or removing of a disabled or abandoned motor vehicle by
another vehicle for hire.
A vehicle which either is towing or is equipped with a crane, winch
or similar device designed to raise, remove, push, pull or carry a motor vehicle
or the front or rear end thereof. For the purposes of this definition, the
following shall not be considered a "tow truck":
A vehicle owned or operated by a governmental agency.
A vehicle being used exclusively for towing motor vehicles which 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 North Hempstead.
The Village of Great Neck.
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
an owner's 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.
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.
[Amended 2-4-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
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.
[Amended 2-4-2003 by L.L. No. 2-2003]
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.
