Source: https://ecode360.com/7685489
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 17:15:48+00:00

Document:
§ 353-52 Application procedure; compliance with additional standards; inspections.
§ 353-54 Denial of license.
§ 353-55 Expiration of license.
§ 353-56 Renewal of license.
§ 353-57 Transferability of license.
§ 353-58 Suspension or revocation of license.
§ 353-59 Lien for towing of impounded vehicles; collection of charges; sale of vehicles.
§ 353-62 Cleanup at accident scene.
§ 353-64 Entitlement to lien.
§ 353-65 Operation of towing companies.
§ 353-67 Promulgation of rules and regulations.
§ 353-68 Penalties for offenses.
§ 353-69 Failure to enforce.
The Chief of Police of the Albany Police Department or his authorized designee.
A person to whom a towing license has been issued pursuant to this article.
The driver of a tow truck for hire within the City of Albany.
A person who owns, leases or has control of one or more tow trucks operating for hire within the City of Albany.
The Police Department of the City of Albany.
A person engaged in the business of offering towing services whereby motor vehicles are moved by use of a motor vehicle designed or adapted for that purpose.
A license issued pursuant to this article permitting a person to tow motor vehicles for hire within the City of Albany.
Except as hereinafter set forth, no person shall maintain or operate a towing company or routinely operate a towing vehicle for hire within the City of Albany without first having obtained a towing license.
The address of the towing company and of the location where towed vehicles are to be stored and the telephone number which may be called to retrieve towed vehicles.
A complete listing of the vehicle make, year and license plate number of all tow trucks to be used or operated by the applicant.
The Chief of Police may require such additional information as may be necessary in order to enforce and administer this article.
Upon receipt of an application for a towing company license, the Chief of Police shall investigate the location of the towing company and of the premises where towed vehicles are to be stored, to determine whether public safety problems exist. The Chief of Police shall also make such investigation as he deems appropriate as to the background of the owner and the operator of the towing company.
The fee for a towing license shall be $75 per year or any fraction thereof for each tow truck owned or operated by the towing company. Payment of the fee shall be due upon application for the license and shall be nonrefundable.
Who does not comply with the provisions of this article or any rule or regulation promulgated under this article.
A towing license may be suspended or revoked by the Chief of Police if the licensee violates any federal, state or local law, ordinance, rule or regulation regarding the operation of his towing business or his fitness to conduct that business.
In accordance with § 20, Subdivision 30, of the General City Law of the State of New York, the City shall have a lien for the towing of all impounded vehicles. A charge against the owner or person entitled to possession of such vehicle of $50 per vehicle for towing may hereby be imposed.
All privately owned parking lots having a capacity of five or more motor vehicles from which unauthorized motor vehicles will be towed shall post a sign at the entrance to said lot or in a conspicuous location indicating that unauthorized vehicles will be towed. Where applicable, said signs must be posted at intervals of every 30 parking spaces. If the owner/operator of such lot(s) contracts with a towing company or companies for the removal of such vehicles, the signage shall also contain the name, location and telephone number of such towing company(ies), the costs of towing and the telephone number of the Albany Police Department Traffic Safety Division. All sign lettering shall be at least two inches in height. Each towing company shall provide the City with a copy of the service agreement entered into between each privately owned parking lot and said towing company. The Police Department shall be advised by the towing company of any tow from a private lot before said towing. Before said towing occurs, the towing company shall provide the Police Department with the reason for the tow and the party authorizing said tow.
A towing company called to the scene of an accident must sweep away or clean up any debris on the street caused by the accident, but only if he is provided with police protection against moving vehicles at the scene. No additional charge or fee shall be imposed or collected for such service.
All towing companies licensed pursuant to this article shall prepare a schedule of the charges for the towing and storage of motor vehicles, and such schedule shall be filed with the Chief of Police. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum charge for the towing of any vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds, which has not been authorized by the owner or operator, shall be $100. An additional flat fee of $25 for the dollying of a vehicle may be imposed. An additional charge of $55 per hour for winching may be imposed. The maximum charge for the storage of towed motor vehicles shall be $35 per day, or each part thereof, to commence after the vehicle has been on the premises for 24 hours. The aforesaid maximum rates shall also apply to the towing of motor vehicles which have become disabled upon a street or highway in the City of Albany regardless of whether said tow may have been authorized by the owner or operator of the vehicle.
All licensed towing companies shall, upon revision of its schedule, submit the amended schedules to the Chief of Police within one business day of the effective date.
It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit towing or body work at the scene of any motor vehicle accident, either on private property or on a public highway, within the City of Albany. It shall also be unlawful for any person to drive along any public street or highway for the purpose of soliciting towing work or body repair work.
The owner shall be liable for the conduct of his agents and employees who are operating a tow truck pursuant to this article as though the owner was personally operating such tow truck.
Except for tows authorized by the Police Department, it shall be unlawful for a towing company operator to tow a vehicle if the owner or operator of the vehicle appears at the scene, requests the towing company operator not to tow the vehicle and is willing and able to correct the condition warranting the tow. The towing company operator shall not tow the vehicle even if the vehicle is connected to the tow truck, provided that the tow truck is not yet in motion. Except as indicated below, the tow truck operator shall not be permitted to charge any fee to the vehicle owner or operator even if the tow truck operator has connected the vehicle to the tow truck, unless the owner or operator is the one who requested the towing services. However, if a towing company responds to a call between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and the vehicle owner or operator appears at the scene and requests the towing company not to tow the vehicle as aforesaid, the towing company shall be prohibited from towing the vehicle but shall be authorized to charge the vehicle owner or operator a maximum of $20.
The owner and operator of a towing company shall comply with all provisions of federal, state and local laws and ordinances relating to the conduct of the towing business and the use and maintenance of the towing company premises.
No towing company licensed pursuant to this article shall be permitted to charge a fee for the towing or storage of motor vehicles in excess of that amount indicated herein.
The telephone number of the Police Department-Traffic Safety Division.
The identity of the person or party authorizing and/or requesting the tow.
The stated purpose for the tow.
A towing company shall maintain accurate records concerning all vehicles towed, which shall contain at least the information required in Subsection M above. Such records shall be retained for at least one year after a towed vehicle has been retrieved. These records shall be available for inspection by the Chief of Police, or his designee, at all times.
A towing company called to tow a motor vehicle by a person other than the owner or operator of the motor vehicle or Police Department shall promptly notify the Police Department of the identity of the vehicle and the location to which it has been towed.
All towing companies doing business in the City of Albany must have an employee on premises, or on call, 24 hours a day. If on call, a telephone number at which said employee can be reached must be prominently displayed at the towing company's place of business. However, towing companies engaged solely in owner-authorized tows shall be exempt from this requirement.
The use of immobilization devices on any motorized vehicles is prohibited in the City of Albany, whether on public or private property, except when authorized by the Chief of Police pursuant to Article X of Chapter 359 of this Code.
The towing of a vehicle through the City of Albany from a location outside the City to another location outside of the City of Albany.
A towing company, personally requested by the owner or operator of a motor vehicle, to tow such person's vehicle.
The Chief of Police may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this article.
Any person in violation of any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by Chapter 258, Penalties, of the Code of the City of Albany.
The failure to enforce any of the provisions of this article shall not be deemed a waiver thereof.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this article is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holdings shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
This article shall take effect immediately upon final passage and signature into law.
Editor's Note: This article was signed into law 11-22-1992.

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