[Amended 10-1-2001]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
BUSINESS
Refers to the business of offering the services of a vehicle wrecker
or towing services whereby motor vehicles are towed or otherwise removed from
the place where they are located by use of a vehicle so designated for that
purpose.
CITY
The City of Middletown.
PERSON
Any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, company
or organization of any kind.
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
A licensed or registered facility at a location where the public
can gain access and speak with an employee of the company in order to have
a vehicle released and/or receive services. The licensed and registered facility
shall be in operation in the City of Middletown for a period of at least one
year prior to the business applying for a permit.
REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS
Any eight-hour period between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
WRECKER
A person engaged in the business of offering the services of a vehicle
wrecker or towing services whereby motor vehicles are towed or otherwise removed
from the place where they are located by use of a wrecker so designated for
that purpose. For the purposes of this chapter, a wrecker shall be deemed
to be any vehicle approved for that purpose by the State Department of Motor
Vehicles.
The Chief of Police shall adopt reasonable regulations for wreckers.
Licensees shall charge such rates for services rendered under this chapter
as may be fixed by regulation of the Chief of Police as fixed by the Department
of Motor Vehicles of the state.
No wrecker shall be placed on the municipal wreckers lists under the provisions contained in §
305-3 without first obtaining a license as hereinafter provided. Nothing contained in this article shall prevent any unlicensed wrecker, not on the municipal wreckers lists, from engaging in the towing of disabled or unattended motor vehicles upon the public highways of the City.
Only one license for each wrecker business shall be required under the provisions of §
305-7.
Application for such license shall be made upon forms to be designed
by the Chief of Police or his/her designee, duly authorized, and such forms
may require such information as is reasonably necessary for the enforcement
of this chapter.
The Chief of Police shall issue no such license or renewal thereof until
the wrecker has paid a fee of $75 to the City for the term of such license.
No rebate of such fee shall be paid.
Each such license shall be issued on a fiscal-year basis, which fiscal
year shall coincide with the fiscal year of the City. Where application is
made for a new license, only such portion of the fee required herein as relates
to the remaining number of days in the fiscal year shall be charged.