[HISTORY: Adopted by the North Wildwood City
Council 5-18-1976 by Ord. No. 664.[1] Amendments now where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this chapter was changed from
"Vehicle Impoundment" to "Vehicle Towing" 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893.
When any police officer, or other person having
the necessary authority, shall find an illegally parked motor vehicle,
a stolen motor vehicle or a motor vehicle determined to have been
abandoned or one involved in an accident rendering it unfit for operation
on the public highway, within the City limits of the City of North
Wildwood, said police officer, or other person having the necessary
authority, may cause said motor vehicle to be towed and impounded,
pursuant to the contract between the City of North Wildwood and the
authorized towing contractor, with the exception of those motor vehicles
involved in accidents, which may be towed by the towing contractor
to a garage of the owner's choice, if said garage is within a five-mile
limit.
Any owner or operator who authorizes, permits
or suffers a motor vehicle to be brought inside the City limits of
the City of North Wildwood shall be deemed to have consented to the
said motor vehicle being towed or impounded pursuant to this chapter.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
The City of North Wildwood shall not be responsible
for any damage caused to any motor vehicle towed or impounded pursuant
to this chapter nor for any theft in connection therewith.
[Amended 12-18-1984 by Ord. No. 880; 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
Any motor vehicle unclaimed for a period of
30 days after it has been abandoned or impounded will be subject to
sale or other disposal pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 12-18-1984 by Ord. No. 880; 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
Where motor vehicles are towed for other police
business or in an emergency, such as a cave-in, broken water main
or fire, and the motor vehicles were legally parked or proceeding
lawfully prior to the emergency, the motor vehicles shall be released
to the owner without charge. However, in those instances, the City
will reimburse the towing contractor for each motor vehicle at the
rate of $10 per motor vehicle.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893]
No towing business or service station operating
solely for the purpose of towing motor vehicles at the request of
the owner and/or operator of said motor vehicle shall be required
to obtain a towing license.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893]
Any individual wishing to operate a truck for
the purpose of towing motor vehicles within the City limits of the
City of North Wildwood, except with the permission of the owner and/or
operator of said motor vehicle, shall operate under the regulations
consistent with N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq., the Predatory Towing Prevention
Act of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 1893]
Any changes adopted by the Legislature of the
State of New Jersey in the regulations of the Predatory Towing Prevention
Act, N.J.S.A. 56:13-7 et seq., shall be deemed to be incorporated
herein without the need of resolution, amending ordinance or other
authorization by the City of North Wildwood.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 410-9, Application fee,
§ 410-10, Insurance, § 410-11, General towing
regulations, § 410-12, Places where signs required, and
§ 410-13, Sign specifications, of the 1981 Code, were repealed 12-20-2022 by Ord. No.
1893.
[Added 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964]
The Director of Public Safety is hereby empowered
to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations to implement the intent
of this chapter.
[Added 6-3-1987 by Ord. No. 964; 5-21-2002 by Ord. No. 1411; at time of adoption
of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates any section of this
chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine of
not more than $2,000, imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or community
service for not more than 90 days, or any combination thereof. Each
day that any violation of any section of this chapter shall exist
shall constitute a separate offense and shall be charged as a separate
offense by the issuance of additional process.
