As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE
A vehicle which is without a current, valid registration
tag and has been left unattended on a public street or in a public
parking area for more than 30 days, or left upon private property
for more than 30 days and its removal is requested by the owner of
such private property. (A vehicle is deemed abandoned in accordance
with N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.5 if left on private property for more than
48 hours without current license and without consent of the owner
of such property.)
AUTOMOBILE
A private-passenger automobile of a private-passenger or
station-wagon type that is owned or hired and is neither used as a
public or livery conveyance for passengers nor rented to others with
a driver, and a motor vehicle with a pickup body, a delivery sedan,
a van, a panel truck or a camper-type vehicle used for recreational
purposes owned by an individual or by a husband and wife who are residents
of the same household, not customarily used in the occupation, profession
or business of the insured other than farming or ranching. An automobile
owned by a farm family copartnership or corporation, which is principally
garaged on a farm or ranch and otherwise meets the definitions contained
in this section, shall be considered a private-passenger automobile
owned by two or more residents in the same household.
BASIC TOWING SERVICE
The removal and transportation of an automobile from a highway,
street or other public or private road, or from a parking area or
storage facility, and other services normally incident thereto, but
does not include recovery of an automobile from a position beyond
the right-of-way or berm, or from being impaled upon any other object
within the right-of-way or berm.
DEPARTMENT
The New Jersey Department of Insurance.
DIRECTOR
The Director of Public Safety of the City of Bridgeton.
GARAGE
A building where motor cars or other vehicles are sheltered,
stored, repaired and made ready for use, not including gasoline service
stations used principally for the furnishing of gasoline, oil, lubrication
services and other services primarily relating to the repair of motor
vehicles.
INSIDE BUILDING
A vehicle storage facility that is completely indoors, having
one or more openings in the walls for storage and removal of vehicles,
and that is secured by a locking device on each opening.
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT
An occurrence in which a private-passenger automobile comes
in contact with any other object for which the private-passenger automobile
must be towed or removed for placement in a storage facility. This
includes all situations which are accidental as to the owner of the
vehicle even if they were caused by intentional acts of a perpetrator
and the perpetrator was not the owner or otherwise involved with the
owner of the vehicle.
OUTSIDE SECURED
An automobile storage facility that is not indoors and is
secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier that is at least
six feet high. The facility is to be lighted at night.
OUTSIDE UNSECURED
An automobile storage facility that is not indoors and is
not secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier, and all other
storage facilities not defined above as "inside building" or "outside
secured."
PERSON
Individuals, as well as corporations, companies, associations,
societies, partnerships and other entities.
TOWING OPERATOR
A person, firm, corporation or other business entity engaged
in the business of removing, transporting and storing disabled, damaged
or otherwise immobile motor vehicles by means of a tow vehicle A towing
operator shall be required to be either the first party lessee or
owner of towing vehicles which are used to remove or transport damaged
or otherwise immobile motor vehicles.
TOW VEHICLE
Only those vehicles equipped with a boom or booms, winches,
slings, tilt beds, wheel lifts or under-reach equipment specifically
designed by its manufacturer for the removal or transport of private-passenger
automobiles.
The governing body of the City of Bridgeton,
at the beginning of each year, will establish a list of towing operators
to be called by the Police Division when required. The towing operators,
as so listed and licensed pursuant to this chapter, shall be called
on a weekly rotating basis by the Police Division of the City of Bridgeton.
Changes in the order of towing rotation shall be made by the Director
of Public Safety with the approval of the governing body.
The annual license fee for a towing application to be included within the towing rotation list shall be as provided in Chapter
149, Fees, Article
II, Schedule of Fees.
The Clerk, upon the recommendation of the Director
of Public Safety, shall approve an application only when the following
requirements have been met, in addition to any other requirements
imposed by this chapter.
A. The public convenience and safety will be served by
issuing the license to the applicant for the vehicles described on
such application.
B. The insurance policies as required by this chapter
have been furnished to the Municipal Clerk and verified as being in
conformance with this chapter.
[Amended 9-19-2017 by Ord. No. 17-20]
C. The applicant and proposed operators are fit persons
to operate and conduct a towing service within the City of Bridgeton.
D. The requirements of this section and all other governing
laws, statutes and ordinances have been met.
E. The vehicles listed on the application have been properly
licensed and inspected by the State of New Jersey and the necessary
stickers affixed thereto. No vehicle shall be licensed or utilized
as a tow truck or towing vehicle under this chapter which does not
comply with state inspection requirements.
F. The tow trucks or towing vehicles shall meet the standards of classifications for tow vehicles set forth in §
334-10 of this chapter.
G. The applicant can provide on-call towing services
24 hours per day, every day of the year.
H. The applicant's base of operation for calls and storage
facility is located within two miles of City limits and the applicant
can demonstrate a response time of no more than 10 minutes.
[Amended 4-5-2011 by Ord. No. 10-29; 9-20-2011 by Ord. No. 11-07]
I. The applicant has attended and completed any and all
training courses presented by the City of Bridgeton or required by
the City of Bridgeton as a condition of approval in the regulations
governing tow operators.
J. The applicant has been certified by an organization approved by the Director of Public Safety pursuant to §
334-8A.
The following minimum standards with respect
to each class of vehicles listed on the application shall be met:
A. Light-duty/service requirements: The tow operator
must present for service a minimum of three trucks, consisting of
two flatbeds and a light-duty wrecker, which meet the following requirements:
(1) Commercially manufactured wrecker and chassis with
a minimum GVWR of 10,000 pounds.
(3) Minimum wheel lift capacity of 3,000 pounds.
(4) Minimum winch capacity of 8,000 pounds.
(5) Minimum hydraulic boom capacity of 8,000 pounds.
(6) Vehicle manufacturer serial plate must be legible
and visible for inspection on undercarriage and chassis boom or certified
by manufacturer's rating paperwork.
(7) A cable 3/8 inch by 100 feet or OEM specifications.
(8) Two safety chains 3/8 inch by 10 feet with a minimum
of Grade 8 alloy.
(9) Two tow chains 3/8 inch by 10 feet with a minimum
of Grade 8 alloy with J- and T-hooks and grab hooks.
(10)
Wheel lift safety straps or equivalent wheel
retention device.
(11)
One four-ton snatch block per winch.
(12)
Trailer ball hitch attachment.
(13)
Motorcycle towing equipment.
(14)
Amber emergency lights with proper amber light
permit from State of New Jersey.
(15)
Two floodlights or worklights to the rear of
the wrecker.
(16)
Two-way radio or cellular phone.
(19)
Flashlight, fire extinguisher and first-aid
kit.
(22)
Broom and shovel, road flares, triangles or
road cones.
(23)
Commercially manufactured flatbed and chassis
with a minimum GVWR of 14,500 pounds.
(24)
Vehicle manufacturer serial plate must be legible
and visible for inspection on underreach and chassis or certified
by manufacturer's rating paperwork.
(25)
Seventeen-foot or longer hydraulically operated
slide back or tilt bed.
(26)
A cable 3/8 inch by 50 feet or OEM specifications.
(27)
Four tie-down devices; if chains, they must
be 3/8 inch by 10 feet with a minimum Grade 7 alloy or synthetic web
straps of equivalent strength.
(28)
One bridle chain, high test, with J-hooks, T-hooks
and grab hooks.
(29)
One four-ton snatch block.
(30)
Assortment of wood blocks and boards.
B. Heavy-duty/service vendors may tow vehicles that are
over 32,000 pounds GVWR or that have dual rear wheels. All towing
vehicles classified as "heavy duty" shall meet the following requirements:
(1) One commercially manufactured hydraulic wrecker and
chassis with underreach capabilities and a minimum GVWR of 32,000
pounds.
(2) Meet state and federal DOT requirements governing
commercial motor vehicles.
(4) Air transfer system: a means of controlling the brakes
of the towed vehicle.
(5) Axle lift with a minimum lift capacity of 25,000 pounds
and a tow capacity of 80,000 pounds.
(6) Vehicle manufacturer serial plate must be legible
and visible for inspection on undercarriage and chassis boom or certified
by manufacturer's rating paperwork.
(7) Two safety chains 1/2 inch by 10 feet with a minimum
of Grade 8 alloy.
(8) Two tow chains 5/8 inch by 10 feet with a minimum
of Grade 8 alloy.
(9) Axle lift safety straps or equivalent retention device.
(10)
Amber emergency lights with proper amber light
permit from State of New Jersey.
(11)
Two floodlights or worklights to the rear of
the wrecker.
(12)
Tow light bar or magnetic tow lights.
(13)
Two-way radio or cellular phone.
(14)
Assortment of wood blocks and boards.
(17)
T-bolts/maxi release pins.
(22)
Road flares, triangles or road cones.
(23)
Two twelve-ton snatch blocks per winch.
(24)
Trained/certified CVI-enlisted personnel will
assist in any federal DOT requirements governing commercial motor
vehicles.
C. Recovery duty. Includes service for all accidents,
recovery and winching incidents for any vehicle over 10,000 pounds
GVWR or any vehicle that has dual wheels.
D. Recovery requirements.
(1) Two commercially manufactured hydraulic wreckers and
chassis with underreach capabilities and a minimum GVWR of 32,000
pounds.
(2) Oshkosh or Sterling-type crane can be substituted
for one hydraulic boom wrecker.
(3) Meet state and federal DOT requirements governing
commercial motor vehicles.
(5) Air transfer system: a means of controlling the brakes
of the towed vehicle.
(6) At least one truck shall have an axle lift with a
minimum lift capacity of 25,0000 pounds and a tow capacity of 80,0000
pounds.
(7) Each wrecker must have a minimum winch capacity of
50,000 pounds.
(8) Each wrecker must have a minimum boom capacity of
50,0000 pounds.
(9) A cable 5/8 inch by 200 feet or OEM specifications.
(10)
Two safety chains 1/2 inch by eight feet alloy.
(11)
Two tow chains 1/2 inch by 10 feet and four
chain binders.
(12)
Recovery straps six inches by 20 feet or longer.
(13)
Axle lift safety straps or equivalent retention
device.
(14)
Two scotch blocks or recovery stiff legs mounted
into body of truck.
(15)
Two twelve-ton snatch blocks per winch.
(16)
Amber emergency lights with proper amber light
permit from State of New Jersey.
(17)
Two floodlights or worklights to the rear of
the wrecker.
(18)
Two-way radio or cellular phone.
(19)
Assortment of wood blocks and boards.
(23)
Tow light bar or magnetic tow lights.
(24)
T-bolts/maxi release pins.
(29)
Road flares, triangles or road cones.
(30)
Additional equipment, either owned or subcontracted.
(31)
One air cushion recovery system, including starter
cushions, with motor-driven air pump and a lifting capacity of 100,000
pounds.
(32)
One semi-tractor with fifth wheel.
(33)
One lowboy or landall-type equipment-hauling
trailer with a minimum hauling capacity of 40,000 pounds.
(34)
One relief trailer or truck capable of transferring
loads off damaged trucks.
E. In order to be qualified for a license, a towing operator must meet each requirement of Subsections
A,
B,
C and
D above.
Licenses granted under this chapter shall be
for a one-year period from January 1 until December 31 of each year.
The Chief of Police shall keep a register of
the names of all persons and entities owning or operating tow trucks
to which licenses have been issued under this chapter, together with
the license number and description of such tow trucks.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to
preclude the owner of any vehicle from requesting any towing operator,
at the owner's election, from towing the owner's vehicle or from utilizing
the services of a particular towing operator within or without the
City of Bridgeton, so long as such request does not jeopardize public
safety.
The Director of Public Safety and/or the City
Police Division may promulgate such rules, regulations and procedures,
not inconsistent with this chapter, as may be reasonable and necessary
to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Copies thereof shall
be provided to all licensed tow operators and shall be made available
to the public, along with copies of current fee schedules, during
normal business hours. Failure to comply with applicable rules, regulations
and procedures may be cause for revocation of a tow operator's license.