Source: https://ecode360.com/12542241
Timestamp: 2019-10-20 03:56:24
Document Index: 763040882

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87', '§ 87']

Borough of Washington, NJ Towing and Storage of Motor Vehicles
Ch 10A Green Team
Ch 49 Peddling and Soliciting
Ch 65 Property Maintenance
Ch 68 Secondhand Goods and Precious Metals
Ch 84 Vandalism, Graffiti and Other Property Offenses
Ch 84A Vehicles, Abandoned and Inoperable
§ 87-1 Definitions.
§ 87-2 Approval required.
§ 87-3 Services to be provided.
§ 87-4 Application for approval.
§ 87-5 Classification standards of tow operators.
§ 87-6 Application review.
§ 87-7 Revocation.
§ 87-8 Appeals.
§ 87-9 Insurance requirements.
§ 87-10 On-call towing list.
§ 87-11 Issuance of license.
§ 87-12 Fee schedule.
§ 87-13 Miscellaneous provisions.
§ 87-14 Dispute resolution and license suspension or revocation.
§ 87-15 Regulations and procedures.
§ 87-16 Violations and penalties.
Borough of Washington, NJ / Part II: General Legislation
Chapter 87 Towing and Storage of Motor Vehicles
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Washington 7-3-2001 by Ord. No. 5-2001.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 75.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 85.
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 87, Vehicles, Impounded, adopted 4-21-1964.
A private passenger motor vehicle or any vehicle included in the definition of "automobile" under N.J.A.C. 11:3-38.2.[1]
The removal and transportation of an automobile from a highway, street or other public or private road, or a parking area, or from a 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.
The Borough of Washington.
Includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, except such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks, or motorized bicycles.
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 fee is charged.
Editor's Note: N.J.A.C. 11:3-38.2 was repealed by R. 1999, d. 1, effective January 4, 1999; see the definition in N.J.A.C. 11:3-39.3.
No person shall engage in the business of towing or storage of motor vehicles at the direction of the Borough of Washington without first obtaining approval and licensing therefor from the Borough of Washington. Nothing herein shall require the rendering of road services or the provision of towing and storage services within the Borough other than at the request of the Borough.
Tow operators shall furnish adequate and proper wrecking, towing, storage and minimal or minor emergency repair services to motor vehicles damaged or disabled within the limits of the Borough when requested to do so by the Chief of Police or his authorized designee.
Applicants for approval under this chapter shall file with the Chief of Police an application on a form to be furnished by the Chief of Police, which shall include the following information and certification:
The full name and address of the applicant and/or owner(s) of the towing service. The application must state the type of business entity that is operating the business, i.e., sole proprietorship, partnership or corporation. If the application is made for a corporation, it shall state the names and addresses of the officers and directors thereof, its registered agent, and the names and residential addresses of every stockholder owning 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 licenses held by each owner, applicant or operators.
The address where the tow vehicle or vehicles 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.
"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 are 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 passive alarm system or a similar on-site security measure. This facility is to be lighted at night.
"Outside unsecured": a vehicle storage facility that is not indoors and is not secured by fence, wall or other man-made barrier, and all other storage facilities not defined above as "inside building" or "outside secured."
The name and address of the insurance carriers and the policy numbers of all insurance policies as required by this chapter.
The following minimum standards must be met for each class of towers:
Light-duty. A light-duty tower shall be able to handle all makes of passenger cars and small trucks up to one ton, such as pickup and small panel trucks. The garage from which a light-duty tower originates must be equipped with a portable car dolly. Each light-duty tower shall be equipped with the following:
Power takeoff-controlled winch with a minimum cable thickness of 3/8 inch or equivalent.
A 360° rotating amber beacon light mounted over the cab.
All lights shall be of such candlepower and intensity as to be visible 1/4 mile away.
A three-thousand-pound hydraulically operated wheel lift.
A fire extinguisher of ABC type and a stiff push broom.
Tow operator shall own at least two flatbed trucks and a wrecker or two wreckers and one flatbed truck 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, towing of the vehicle by conventional means would result in further damage.
Tow operator must provide proof of certification.
Manufacturer rating: gross vehicle weight of 32,000 pounds. Manufacturer rating may be obtained from the factory where the truck originated. Other written evidence of gross vehicle weight may be accepted by the Borough if verified.
Power takeoff-controlled winch with a minimum cable thickness of 5/8 inch.
All lights shall be of such candlepower and intensity as to be visible 1/4 mile.
Fifty-thousand-pound heavy-duty boom with forty-thousand-pound hydraulically operated under-reach.
Two-speed rear axle and differential and dual transmission or five-speed transmission.
Light-duty towing: two trucks and one flatbed or two flatbeds and one truck for a total of three.
Heavy-duty towing: two trucks.
The tow trucks and equipment are in safe and sound condition and in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
All applicants for a license to provide services under this chapter must have their principal business location/operation within the geographic boundaries of Washington Borough and/or Washington Township.
The Chief of Police shall conduct his review and render a written decision on the application within 20 days of receipt of the application. An applicant may file a written appeal of the decision of the Chief of Police within 14 days of notice of the decision in accordance with § 87-8 of this chapter.
Approvals issued under this chapter may be revoked by the Chief of Police after reasonable notice and hearing pursuant to this section 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 approval.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter, any additional regulations promulgated by the Chief of Police or any state, federal or local law relating to motor vehicle operation.
Notice of revocation shall be in writing and shall include the reason therefor and notice of the licensee's right to appeal to the Mayor and Council.
Any person aggrieved by the action of the Chief of Police in denial of an application, or in revocation thereof, or in the suspension from the tow operators on-call towing list may appeal to the Borough Council 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 Mayor and Council 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. The applicant, or its representative, shall be permitted to appear and be heard at that time. Written notice of the approval or denial of the appeal shall be provided to the applicant within seven days of the decision of the Borough Council.
Garage keeper's liability in an amount not less than $60,000;
Endorsements incorporating the indemnification provision as set forth herein; and
Endorsements naming the Borough as an additional insured in all insurance policies (except workers' compensation policies).
All tow operators shall hold harmless and indemnify the Borough, 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.
All insurance policies shall be written by insurance companies acceptable to the Borough and authorized to do business in the State of New Jersey.
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 Borough of policy cancellation or material change.
Any approval issued under this chapter will be automatically revoked upon expiration or cancellation of the required insurance or material change in coverage that 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 Borough Police Department. In order to be included on the on-call list, an applicant must meet all of the requirements of this chapter.
The fees to be charged for towing and storage services shall not exceed those fees set forth in this chapter. The Borough shall not be liable for the cost of any towing and/or storage services unless those services are performed on a municipal vehicle.
Inclusion on the on-call towing list shall be automatically revoked upon revocation of approval. The Chief of Police may also suspend a tow operator's inclusion on the on-call towing list for such period of time as the Chief considers appropriate for violations of this chapter, after a hearing on such violations. Suspensions may be appealed pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 87-8.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit a motorist or motor vehicle owner from summoning a tow operator of his or her own choosing, except that any Borough 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 Borough 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 Borough 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 Municipal Clerk shall issue a license, designated "light-duty" or "heavy-duty," or both. The term of a license shall be for one year.
The fee for a license for each light-duty operation only shall be $50 per year.
The fee for a license for a heavy-duty operation only shall be $50 per year.
The fee for a license for a combination light-duty and heavy duty operation shall be $75 per year.
The following is the maximum fee schedule for towing and storage of motor vehicles:
Daytime rates: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Regular tow/winch: $70.
Additional charge of $50 per hour for winch, cleanup and standby at garage labor rate.
Nighttime rates: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Regular tow/winch: $85..
Holiday and weekend rates: 0001 hours to 2400 hours.
Regular tow or winch: $95.
Road service. Fifty dollars per call up to an hour and $50 per hour thereafter.
Storage charges.
Twenty-five dollars every 24 hours outside (applies to both automobiles and motorcycles).
Thirty dollars every 24 hours inside.
Sixty dollars large truck outside.
After the first 1/2 hour of service, a charge of $30 will be added.
Every 1/2 hour thereafter, a fee of $20 will be added.
Time of service to start when wrecker operator is dispatched by Police Department.
Completion is when wrecker leaves the scene.
Owners may obtain release of their vehicles between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon Saturday upon presentation of proof of insurance, valid driver's license and current registration, unless the tow operator has been otherwise directed by the Borough of Washington Police Department.
Pursuant to law, the fee schedule shall be reviewed by the New Jersey Commissioner of Insurance on an annual basis and may be revised if necessary. In the event the above schedules are revised by the Commissioner of Insurance, the revised fees shall be the maximum fees that may be charged by official towers, and this chapter shall be deemed amended accordingly.
Maximum fees for towing and storage of motor vehicles shall not exceed those set forth in Subsection A if the tow operator is called to the scene by the Police Department of the Borough in accordance with this chapter. Any other towing services to motor vehicles when requested privately by individuals shall be at the rates as agreed to between the individual and the tower.
No person shall be liable to any tow operator for any other towing or storage services for any fees in excess of the operator's approved fee schedule.
Copies of this chapter and the schedule of fees that may be charged by tow operators shall be made available to the public during normal business hours at the Borough Municipal Building and Police Department. Copies shall also be made available to the public at each tow operator's place of business.
The Borough reserves the right to make periodic unannounced inspections of the personnel, vehicles, equipment and storage areas of all tow operators.
The relationship between the tow operator and the Borough is one of an independent contractor. Neither party shall be construed in any manner whatsoever to be an employee of the other, nor shall any employee or agent of the other party. Inclusion on the towers list shall not be construed or considered as a joint venture, partnership, association, contract of employment or profit sharing agreement.
The municipality shall not be liable or responsible for compensating the tow operators for any of the services performed under this chapter unless those services are performed for Borough vehicles. Compensation shall be the responsibility of the owner of the towed motor vehicle, and the tow operator shall proceed directly against the owner.
Each tow operator shall keep and maintain adequate and complete records showing all vehicles towed, stored and released, all services rendered and all fees charged and collected. All records shall be available for inspection by the Borough at any time during normal business hours. Records shall be kept and maintained by the tow operator at one central location and shall be retained for a period of seven years. Records may be written, printed or computerized as long as the requirements of this subsection are met.
The tow operator shall comply with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning wages, hours and terms of employment.
In the event a complaint is received by the Borough involving the improper or unsatisfactory performance of services by a tow operator in violation of this chapter, excessive charges or damage to a motor vehicle while in custody of the tow operator, written notice of same shall be provided by the Borough Manager to the tow operator involved. The tow operator shall have the opportunity to respond, in writing, within seven days.
Within 14 days of receipt of the tow operator's response, or within 21 days of receipt of the complaint, if no response is received, the matter shall be presented by the Borough Manager to the Mayor and Council.
After considering the matter and the evidence presented, the Mayor and Council shall make certain findings and conclusions relative to the complaint which shall constitute their decision.
If the Council finds in favor of the complainant and against the tow operator, the Council may consider and impose the following penalties:
Permanent revocation of the official tower's license; or
Such other penalty as the Mayor and Council deems just and appropriate under the circumstances.
In considering the imposition of a suspension, revocation or other penalty, the Council shall take into account factors, including, but not limited to, any prior violations of the tow operator, the nature and seriousness of the complaint and the danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000; and each violation of any of the provisions of this chapter and each day the same is violated shall be deemed and taken to be a separate and distinct offense.
The Borough Police Department or any member thereof is hereby declared to be the enforcement agency of this chapter in accordance with due process of law, as well as any applicable rules and regulations.