The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to
establish and properly mark such safety zones in and about the Town
as he may deem necessary. He is also hereby authorized to establish
"no parking" areas and to mark such areas at such places in and about
the Town as he may deem necessary.
[Amended 12-12-1988 by Ord. No. 12-88-0157; 8-23-2004 by Ord. No. 3-04-0240; 12-10-2007 by Ord. No. 11-07-263]
A. The Coventry Police Department will establish a duty
roster consisting of no more than four vehicle towing services. The
roster shall consist of the current four authorized Coventry towing
services, all of which are located within the Town of Coventry. Only
the scheduled duty towing services shall be called for all vehicle
tows involving accidents, junked, abandoned or disabled vehicles.
In the event that the assigned towing service cannot respond, then
the next towing service in the upcoming schedule will be called and
on down the list until one of the four is contacted. It is forbidden
that any nonapproved towing service be called by the Police Department
except in a situation when none of the four towing services are able
to respond. In such a situation, the police log will reflect the time
and identification of the towing service called, the person spoken
with, and the nonapproved towing service utilized.
B. It will be the responsibility of the Coventry towing
services to keep a current list on file with the Coventry Police Department
that the four approved towing services meet Rhode Island Public Utilities
Commission (PUC) approval; that the towing equipment be maintained
in good repair; and that the operator be a person trained in towing
services.
C. Nothing in this chapter precludes an owner of a vehicle
from requesting that a towing service other than one of the four be
called, but it will be necessary for the person to sign a request
for the police officer on the scene to call a specific towing service,
and the request form will reflect the name, city, and telephone number
of the requested towing service.
D. In the event that the owner of a vehicle requests
that a towing service association be called, the proper request form
shall be completed and the police dispatcher will call the regional
or main headquarters of the association requested. Under no circumstances
shall a local member of the service association be called directly
by the police dispatcher. A response time for a towing vehicle must
not exceed 20 minutes, and the dispatcher shall determine response
time when requesting an association's service; and if it is indicated
that the response time will be greater than 20 minutes, the police
dispatcher will call the duty towing service and the owner of the
vehicle will be so advised.
E. The four authorized towing services shall complete
and forward to the Coventry Police Department a tow list application
on a form approved by the Town of Coventry Police Department. Upon
approval by the Police Department and, thereafter, the Town Council,
a license shall be issued to remain on the approved Town list. The
application and background information shall be filled out in its
entirety before a towing company can remain on the Coventry Police
tow list. All present tow companies on the Coventry Police tow list
must complete and forward an application as set forth above and meet
all requirements stated herein within 30 days of the adoption of this
section. Failure to submit an application and meet said requirements
within the thirty-day period will result in immediate removal from
the tow list. Incorrect or false information on said application shall
result in the towing company being removed from the list. This application
and license shall be renewed each calendar year in January by the
tow companies and shall require the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Town Council to issue a license. Further, the Town Council
may, from time to time by resolution, set a licensing fee for tow
companies to be paid prior to issuance of a license pursuant to this
section.
F. The towing service shall maintain a place of business
in the Town of Coventry with minimum operating hours of 8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
G. Limitation of service. A towing company shall not
be required to collect or deliver wrecked, disabled or repossessed
vehicles to places where, in the judgment of the owner/employee, it
is impracticable or unsafe to do so. Toll fees for roads and bridges
shall be the responsibility of the vehicle's owner.
H. The maximum charges for towing services within the
Town of Coventry are per Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Regulations,
Order 16819, dated and effective December 20, 2001.
No washing, polishing, cleaning or repairing
of any motor vehicle or recreational vehicle shall be allowed within
the confines of parks, recreational areas or exterior school property.