Source: https://www.ecode360.com/29443649
Timestamp: 2017-10-20 18:00:54
Document Index: 50552415

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313', '§ 313']

Township of Mansfield, NJ Towing
§ 313-2 Approval and licensing required.
§ 313-3 Services to be provided; subcontractors; liability.
§ 313-4 Application for approval; required information.
§ 313-5 Classification standards for towers; equipment requirements.
§ 313-6 Application review; conditions for acceptance.
§ 313-7 Revocation; notice.
§ 313-8 Appeals.
§ 313-9 Insurance requirements.
§ 313-10 On-call towing list; approved storage facilities.
§ 313-11 Issuance of license.
§ 313-12 Fee schedule.
§ 313-13 Regulations and procedures; failure to comply.
§ 313-15 License fees.
Chapter 313: Towing
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Mansfield 1-28-2008 by Ord. No. 2009-03. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Chapter 313 : Towing
A private passenger motor vehicle or any vehicle included in the definition of automobile under N.J.A.C. 11:3-22.2.
Includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, but shall exclude motorcycles and such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks.
The Township of Mansfield.
A person engaged in the business of towing and storing automobiles and other motor vehicles, or offering the services of a tow vehicle or tow truck and storage services.
Those vehicles equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings, tilt beds, wheel lifts or under-reach equipment specifically designed by their manufacturer for the removal or transport of motor vehicles, including flatbed vehicles, employed for the purpose of towing, transporting, conveying and/or removing motor vehicles which are unable to be operated under their own power from one place to another for which a charge or fee is extracted.
No person shall engage in the business of towing or storing automobiles or other motor vehicles at the direction of the Township of Mansfield without first obtaining approval and a Township tow operator's license from the Township of Mansfield. The Township of Mansfield is hereby authorized to issue up to a maximum of six tow operator's licenses at any one time pursuant to this chapter.
Nothing herein shall require the rendering of road service or for the provision of towing and storage services within the Township other than at the request of the Township.
Licensed towers shall furnish adequate and proper wrecking, towing, storage and minimal or minor emergency repair services to automobiles and other motor vehicles damaged or disabled within the limits of the Township when requested to do so by the Chief of Police or his authorized designee. The Chief of Police may require that said vehicle to be towed to a Township-operated facility, if any.
No licensed tower shall subcontract any work to be performed pursuant to this chapter without having first obtained prior written approval from the Chief of Police. Any tower to whom approval to subcontract work has been given shall be responsible for the services performed by the subcontractor and shall remain liable for any violations of this chapter by the subcontractor.
Applicants for a tow operator's license under this chapter shall file an application with the Chief of Police. The form of the application shall be furnished by the Chief of Police, and applicants are responsible for securing these applications. There shall be paid at the time of submission of the application a nonrefundable one-time application fee of $75. The application shall include the following information and certification:
The full name and address of the applicant and, if different, the owner(s) of the towing service. The application must state the type of business entity which is operating the business, i.e., sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. If the application is made for a corporation, it shall state the name and addresses of the officers and directors thereof, its registered agent and the names and residential addresses of every stockholder owing more than 10% of the issued stock. If the application is made on behalf of a sole proprietorship or partnership, all parties having an equity interest in the towing service shall be listed.
The year, make and type of each tow vehicle used in said business, its serial number, registration number and registered owner(s) and applicable licenses held by each owner or operator.
The address where each tow vehicle shall be regularly garaged, the telephone number or numbers and the hours during which service is available at those numbers, and the names, addresses and New Jersey driver license numbers of all operators.
The location, size and features of the storage lot or space in which towed vehicles will be stored, including the number of spaces available. The storage lot(s) shall be designated either as:
Inside building, a vehicle storage facility that is completely indoors, having one or more openings in the walls for storage and removal of vehicles that is secured by a locking device on each opening;
Outside secured, a vehicle storage facility that is not indoors and is secured by a fence, walls or other man-made barrier that is at least six feet high and is installed with a passive alarm system or a similar on-site security measure. The facility is to be lighted at night; or
Outside unsecured, a vehicle 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.
Whether the tower wishes to be designated as a light-duty tower or heavy-duty tower, or both.
Such other information as the Chief of Police may prescribe. In this regard, applicants shall be responsible for the costs of fingerprinting and background checks as required by the Chief of Police.
Power-take-off controlled winch with a minimum cable thickness of 3/8 inch or equivalent.
A three-eighths-inch safety chain. The lift chain and safety chains shall not be attached in any form or manner to the same part of the wrecker.
A three-hundred-sixty-degree rotating amber beacon light mounted over the cab.
All lights shall be of such candle power and intensity as to be visible 1/4 of a mile away or shall be equal to the candle power of the lights on Township police vehicles.
Tower shall own at least two flatbed trucks and one conventional wrecker for the removal of vehicles from roadways. A flatbed truck will be used when, in the opinion of the tower and the police officer on the scene, to tow the vehicle by conventional means would result in further damage.
Heavy-duty. All towers classified as heavy-duty shall be equipped with the following:
Manufacturer rating: gross vehicle weight of 32,000 pounds. Manufacturer rating may be obtained from the factory where the truck originates. Other written evidence of gross vehicle weight may be accepted by the Township if verified.
Power-take-off controlled winch with a minimum cable thickness of 5/8 inch.
All lights shall be of such candle power and intensity as to be visible 1/4 of a mile away or shall be equal to the candle power of the lights of a Township police vehicle.
Two-speed rear axle and differential or dual transmission, five-speed transmission or automatic transmission.
Light-duty towing, one truck and one flatbed.
Heavy-duty towing, one truck.
Neither the applicant nor any tow vehicle operator has any criminal convictions or prior motor vehicle infractions which might adversely affect safety or welfare.
The applicant has the ability to respond to any request for assistance within 30 minutes.
The applicant owns or has a valid lease to a storage facility in or within five miles of the Township in an area legally zoned for such use, and such storage facility includes a minimum of six secured outside and/or inside parking spaces for the storage of impounded vehicles. The definitions related to the various types of indoor and outdoor storage facilities set forth in § 313-4A(4) shall be applied to determine operator compliance with this provision.
The applicant is in compliance with and/or has the ability to comply with all other requirements and standards set forth herein or otherwise required by law.
The Chief of Police shall conduct his review and render a report to the Township Committee, recommending either approval or denial of the application within 60 days of receipt of the application and if there is a viable reason given to the Township Committee, they may grant the Police Department an extension of 30 days. Within 21 days of receipt of the report of the Chief of Police, the applicant, or its representative, shall be given notice of the date on which the Township Committee will consider the application and shall be permitted to appear and be heard at that time.
Written notice of the approval or denial of the application shall be provided to the applicant within seven days of the decision of the Township Committee.
Approvals issued under this chapter may be revoked by the Chief of Police after reasonable notice and hearing pursuant to this chapter for any of the following reasons:
False or materially inaccurate information in the application, or a change of circumstances which would have caused disapproval of the application if existing at the time of the approval.
Unsatisfactory service which jeopardizes public safety. More than three unexcused failures to respond and/or valid complaints (as determined by the Chief of Police after investigation) within a twelve-month period shall be considered grounds for revocation.
Revocation shall be in writing and shall include the reasons therefore and notice of the licensee's right to appeal to the Township Committee.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Chief of Police in denial of an application, suspension from the Township on-call towing list, or suspension of tow operator's license, may appeal to the Township Committee by filing with the Office of the Clerk, within 14 days after notice of the action complained of has been mailed to such person's last known address, a written request for a hearing, setting forth fully the grounds for the appeal. The Committee will set a time and place for a hearing on such appeal, and notice shall be served on or mailed to the applicant or licensee at least five days prior to the hearing.
Every licensed operator shall carry insurance as follows:
Comprehensive vehicle liability in an amount not less than $1,000,000 combined single limits.
Garage keeper's liability in an amount not less than $60,000.
Comprehensive general liability coverage in an amount not less than $1,000,000 for each person and $2,000,000 for each accident.
Endorsements incorporating the indemnification provision as set forth herein.
Endorsements naming the Township as an additional insured in all insurance policies (except workers' compensation policies).
All tow operators shall hold harmless and indemnify the Township, its officers, employees and agents, from any and all liability claims, losses or damage arising or alleged to arise from the performance of the towing services requested of or rendered by the licensee. The foregoing indemnification language shall be incorporated in the required general comprehensive liability policy.
No approval shall be issued until the applicant has submitted the certificates of insurance evidencing the insurance coverage and endorsements required. All certificates must provide for 30 days' prior written notice to the Township of policy cancellation or material change.
Any approval shall be issued under this chapter will be automatically revoked upon expiration or cancellation of the required insurance, or material change in coverage which renders that coverage not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
The Chief of Police shall maintain a list of those approved tow operators to respond to calls from the Township Police Department. In order to be included on the on-call towing list, an applicant must meet all of the requirements of this chapter.
Calls to tow operators on the on-call list shall be made on a nondiscriminatory rotating basis, pursuant to procedures established by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police or his designee may call a tow operator out of sequence or seeking the services of a tow operator not on the on-call list if the circumstances require specialized equipment or if the interests of public safety so require.
The fees to be charged for towing and storage services shall be as set forth in this chapter. The Township shall not be liable for the cost of any towing and/or storage services, unless those services are performed for a municipal vehicle.
Inclusion on the on-call towing list shall be automatically revoked upon revocation of tow operator's license. The Chief of Police may also suspend a tow operator's inclusion on the on-call towing list for such period of time as he considers appropriate for violations of this chapter, after a hearing on such violations. Suspensions may be appealed pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 313-8.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a motorist or vehicle owner from summoning a tow operator of his or her own choosing, except that any Township police officer at the scene of an incident requiring towing services shall be responsible for making the final determination as to when towing shall take place and which tow operator shall be called.
All vehicles towed at the request of the Township must be removed to an approved storage facility in the State of New Jersey, unless the owner or operator of the vehicle specifically requests that it be towed to another destination. Any Township police officer at the scene shall be responsible for making the final determination as to the towing destination.
Upon receipt of notice by the Clerk that an application has been approved and classified and upon the payment of the license fee designated herein, the Township Clerk shall issue a Township of Mansfield tow operator's license, designated "light-duty" or "heavy-duty" or both.
Fees and rates for towing and storage of motor vehicles shall not exceed the following limits:
Light-duty day rate (8:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.): $85 to $125 per towing vehicle dispatched, plus any fees for additional services performed and mileage ($4 per mile) from the scene.
Light-duty night rate (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.): $100 to $175, plus any fees for additional services performed from the scene and mileage ($4.50 per mile). The night rate shall apply on Sundays and legal holidays in the State of New Jersey.
Medium towing. For motor vehicles with gross weight between 10,000 pounds and 26,000 pounds: $175 to $250 per hour with a minimum of one hour per towing vehicle dispatched, regardless of the time of day and mileage ($5 per mile).
Heavy-duty towing. For motor vehicles with a gross weight over 26,000 pounds which can be moved with a conventional wrecker, $350 to $500 per hour and mileage ($6 per mile). Minimum one hour per towing vehicle dispatched, regardless of the time of day.
For motor vehicles with a gross weight over 26,000 pounds where under-reach towing is required, $450 to $600 per hour and mileage ($6 per mile). Minimum one hour per towing vehicle dispatched, regardless of the time of day.
No mileage shall be charged if the vehicle is towed to the tow operator's storage facility or to any location requested by the owner that is located within the Township of Mansfield.
Mileage may be charged should the owner request that the vehicle be towed to another location outside the Township of Mansfield, but the operator must first obtain the owner's approval of the operator's applicable mileage rate. No person shall be liable to any tow operator for any mileage fee in excess of the operator's fee schedule.
Rates for road service shall not exceed the following:
Motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 pounds: $75 to $125 per hour day rate and $125 to $150 per hour night rate, with one hour minimum charge, plus costs of any materials used, including but not limited to, gasoline.
Motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 pounds: $100 to $125 per hour day rate and $125 to $175 per hour night rate, with one hour minimum charge, plus costs of any materials used, including but not limited to gasoline.
Storage fees shall not exceed $30 per day, or any part thereof, for outside unsecured storage of motor vehicles under 22 feet in length and shall not exceed $75 per day, or any part thereof, per unit, for all other motor vehicles.
Storage fees shall not exceed $35 per day, or any part thereof, for outside secured storage of motor vehicles under 22 feet in length and shall not exceed $85 per day, or any part thereof, per unit, for all other motor vehicles.
Storage fees shall not exceed $40 per day, or any part thereof, for inside secured storage of motor vehicles under 22 feet in length and shall not exceed $100 per day, or any part thereof, per unit, for all other motor vehicles.
Sixty-five dollars to $75 for extra help if needed per hour and any additional equipment necessary to clear roadway of debris is extra charge. All rates are subject to weather conditions. Winching and recovery charges are subject to conditions pertaining to accident scene and weather conditions.
Prior to hookup or flat-bedding of a motor vehicle, the tow operator shall present a copy of its fee schedule to the owner or operator of the vehicle. The fee schedule shall also contain the name, address and telephone number of the tow operator and a statement of the hours when the motor vehicle may be claimed.
Operators licensed by the Township may petition the Township Committee for changes in the fee limits established herein based upon inflation, reasonableness and economic need.
Within 10 days of notice of approval of the license, the applicant shall pay the following fees to the Township: