Source: https://ecode360.com/9557247
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 13:03:57
Document Index: 40074719

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 416', '§ 6', '§ 416']

Borough of Dumont, NJ Towing
§ 416-2 License required.
§ 416-3 Exceptions.
§ 416-4 License term.
§ 416-5 License application and review.
§ 416-6 Issuance of license; revocation.
§ 416-7 Services to be furnished.
§ 416-8 Minimum standards of performance.
§ 416-9 Rotating list; substitution.
§ 416-10 Indemnification of Borough.
§ 416-11 Insurance.
§ 416-12 Towing and storage fees.
§ 416-13 Miscellaneous provisions.
§ 416-14 Dispute resolution and license revocation.
Chapter 416 Towing
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Dumont 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 1209 (Secs. 7-53 through 7-67 of the 1970 Revised Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Police Department — See Ch. 75.
The removal and transportation of a motor vehicle from a highway, street, public or private road, parking area, or 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.
A vehicle storage facility that is completely indoors, having one or more openings in the wall, for storage and removal of vehicles and that is secured by a locking device on each opening.
LICENSED TOWING COMPANY
A person, partnership, corporation or other business entity engaged in the towing and storage of motor vehicles which is licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms "licensed towing company" and "towing company" are interchangeable.
All vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, excepting such vehicles as run only on rails or tracks and motorized bicycles.
An occurrence in which a motor vehicle comes in contact with any other object, the result of which is that the motor vehicle must be towed or removed for placement in a storage facility. This includes all situations which are accidental as to the owner or operator of the motor vehicle even if they were caused by the intentional acts of a perpetrator where the perpetrator was not the owner or operator of the motor vehicle.
A vehicle storage facility that is not indoors and is secured by a fence, wall or other man-made barrier that is a least six feet high and is equipped with lights and a passive alarm system or a similar on site security measure.
OUTSIDE UNSECURED STORAGE
A motor 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 as inside storage building or outside secured storage facility.
The maximum allowable amount to be charged for the storage of a motor vehicle for a twenty-four-hour period or fraction thereof. A new twenty-four-hour period begins at 12:01 a.m.
Only those vehicles equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings, tilt beds, wheel lifts or under-reach equipment specifically designed by its manufacturer for the removal or transport of motor vehicles.
A person, partnership, corporation or other business entity engaged in the towing and storage of motor vehicles. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms "towing company" and "licensed towing company" are interchangeable.
[Amended 6-4-1996 by Ord. No. 1227]
No towing company shall operate within the Borough of Dumont for police-requested towing services and/or storage services unless the towing company has obtained a license issued by the Borough pursuant to this chapter.
The requirement for a license shall commence on July 1 next following the adoption of this chapter and shall be required to be renewed each year thereafter on or before July 1 of each year.
There shall be no more than seven licenses issued under this chapter which shall be in effect at one time.
Owner-requested service. No license shall be required for the on-site repair and/or towing or storage of any motor vehicle when the request is received by the towing company prior to a police request or if the owner or operator of a motor vehicle requests the police to contact a specific towing company.
Towing from private property. No license shall be required for the towing of any motor vehicle from private property without the consent of the owner except on the express instruction of the police in the event of an emergency.
The term of the license shall be for one year commencing July 1, or in the case of a license for any unexpired term, on the date it is issued. All licenses shall expire on the next following July 1 at 12:01 a.m.
Applications for a license under this chapter shall be made to the Borough upon a form provided by the Borough Police Department and shall contain all of the following information:
The name, residence and business address, and telephone number of the owner of the towing company. If the owner is a corporation, the application shall contain the name, residence and business address and telephone number of every stockholder owning more than 10% of the issued stock.
Such information as may be required by the Borough concerning the personnel, vehicles, equipment and storage facilities of such applicant, as hereinafter provided, showing that the applicant meets the minimum standards of performance.
A certificate of insurance, certificates of insurance, and/or an insurance policy evidencing adequate insurance coverage as hereinafter provided, and which certificate of insurance, certificates of insurance, and/or insurance policies must be approved by the Borough's Risk Management Consultant.
A fee of $250 to cover the administrative expenses incurred by the Borough in processing the application. For applications submitted for a period of less than a calendar year, the fee shall be $50 per calendar quarter or portion thereof.[1]
Upon receipt of a complete application, the Chief of Police shall cause the application to be reviewed. The review shall consist of the following:
A background check to determine if either the applicant or the applicant's personnel have been convicted of a criminal offense or have had their driver's licenses suspended or revoked within the past year. Conviction of a criminal offense or suspension of driver's license within the past year shall be a cause for disqualification from inclusion on the licensed towing companies' list.
The Chief of Police shall conduct his review and render a report to the governing body, recommending either approval or denial of the application, within 30 days of receipt of the application. The governing body shall take action on the application at the regularly scheduled public meeting next following receipt of the report of the Chief of Police.
The applicant, or its representative, shall be given notice of the date on which the governing body 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 governing body.
If the governing body fails to take action within 60 days of receipt of a complete application, the application shall be deemed to have been denied.
An applicant may be included on the licensed towing companies' list by the governing body, by resolution adopted at a regular public meeting, when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, they find that all of the following circumstances exist:
The applicant has not knowingly and with intent to deceive, made any false, misleading or fraudulent statements of material fact in the application or in any other document required pursuant to this chapter.
The applicant has met the standards in this chapter and has furnished the required Hold Harmless Agreement and certificate(s) of insurance and/or insurance policy.
Upon approval of the application as herein provided, the Chief of Police shall issue the applicant a towing company license for each tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle to be utilized in providing services pursuant to this chapter.
All licenses shall be displayed in the tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle at all times.
The licenses shall be nontransferable and shall be subject to revocation by the governing body for any of the following reasons:
If it is subsequently determined that the applicant knowingly and with intent to deceive, made false, misleading or fraudulent statements of material fact in the application or in any other document required pursuant to this chapter.
Failure by the applicant to comply with all of the insurance requirements as contained in this chapter.
Licensed towing companies shall furnish adequate and proper towing, storage and emergency repair services to motor vehicles damaged or disabled within the limits of the Borough, when requested to do so by an authorized Borough Official. The towing company must be available on a twenty-four-hour-a-day basis, seven days a week. Nonavailability on the date scheduled without a substitute company will be considered a violation of the license.
A response time of 15 minutes will be expected from each towing company called by the Police Department or a Borough Official. If the towing company fails to respond within the time period, the next towing company on the list will be called. Failure to respond within the stated time frame will be considered a violation of the license. Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the license.
No towing company shall subcontract any work to be performed pursuant to this chapter without having obtained the prior written approval from the Chief of Police. Any towing company given approval to subcontract work shall be responsible for the services performed by the subcontractor and shall remain liable for any violation of this chapter by the subcontractor.
The towing company shall:
Remove from the street all debris resulting from the accident.
Preserve all evidence as requested by the police.
Comply with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning wages, hours and terms of employment.
File an employment nondiscrimination statement.
Establish a procedure for notification of vehicle owners regarding storage fees and removal of vehicles.
To qualify for a license, applicants must meet the following minimum standards:
Every towing company shall maintain and have available to render services required by this chapter a minimum of one regular tow vehicle and one flatbed vehicle. In lieu of owning a flatbed vehicle, the towing company shall have evidence of the availability of a flatbed when required.
Regular tow vehicles must be equipped with a boom or winch assembly mounted on the chassis, a tow sling or wheel lift assembly at least 100 feet of either three-eighths inch or seven-sixteenths inch cable attached to a motor-driven winch.
Red-colored safety tow lights or magnetic tow lights on towed vehicles at night, when other lights are not available.
At least one heavy-duty broom, a shovel, a crowbar or prybar, a set of jumper cables, a flashlight, one two-pound or larger fire extinguisher of dry chemical type, one dozen flares or similar warning devices for placement at the scene of an accident or behind a disabled vehicle, and a sufficient quantity and types of tools to enable the tow vehicle operator to perform proper and adequate emergency repair services for the tow.
Every tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle shall comply with any and all state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to safety, lighting and towing equipment requirements and shall be subject to inspection by the Chief of Police or his designee at any time. No changes may be made on said vehicles or equipment unless prior written approval is obtained from the Borough.
Every tow vehicle or flatbed vehicle shall display the towing companies license and shall have the name of the towing company displayed on the vehicle in such manner and of such lettering as conforms to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:4-46.
Minimum personnel requirements.
Licensed towing companies shall have available, at all times, a minimum of two persons to provide the services required by this chapter. All persons employed by a licensed towing company to provide the services required by this chapter shall meet the following requirements and be subject to the following regulations. They shall:
Be competent mechanics able to provide minimum road services for disabled vehicles.
Have a valid driver's license with no restrictions or conditional endorsements other than a condition requiring the wearing of eyeglasses.
Every towing company shall maintain an inside building or outside secured storage area meeting the following requirements:
The storage area shall be capable of storing a minimum of five passenger vehicles. The area shall have at least 800 square feet of inside storage facilities to hold and protect "police hold" vehicles.
The location of the storage area shall be either within the limits of the Borough or within 10 minutes from the boundary line of the Borough.
The storage area shall be fully enclosed by a sturdy fence having a minimum height of six feet, with at least one lockable gate for ingress and egress and shall be lighted from dusk to dawn.
The storage facility shall be available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year and shall be open to the public on weekdays during normal business hours and for limited hours on weekends. The applicants shall specify the hours on which the facility will be open on weekends.
The towing company shall have an employee on duty during all hours in which the storage facility is open.
The towing company shall not charge a release fee or other charge for releasing vehicles to their owner after normal business hours or on weekends.
The towing company shall be responsible for ensuring the proper and safe storage of all vehicles towed pursuant to this chapter. The towing company shall be liable for any damage incurred by such vehicles while in transit to or while stored in the storage areas.
The towing company is prohibited from piling of vehicles or parking on public streets or sidewalks.
Each of the first seven approved licensees shall be placed on a list by the Chief of Police. A calendar shall be prepared designating the days that a towing company is responsible.
A towing company may substitute another company for the date scheduled, provided the substitute company is on the towing company list. All requests for substitution must be made to and approved by the Chief of Police at least 72 hours prior to the day the substitution is to occur.
The Borough shall request towing and storage services from each towing company in daily rotation. When called, the towing company shall advise the official making the request if a vehicle is available and the estimated time of arrival. If no tow vehicle is available or if, in the discretion of the official making the request, the response time is insufficient under the circumstances to properly protect the public health, safety or welfare, the next towing company on the list shall be called.
All requests for service shall be made by the Borough Administrator, Superintendent of Public Works or any member of the Police Department or Fire Department.
The Borough shall request service only from licensed towing companies; provided, however, that if no emergency or road hazard exists, service shall be requested from such other companies as the owner of the motor vehicles may request; and provided further that if none of the licensed towing companies are available or able to provide such services, or if any emergency exists, the Borough may request such services from any other available source.
During adverse weather conditions, heavy traffic conditions or emergency conditions, towing companies shall give priority to requests from the Borough over any other requests which may be received by the towing companies.
All licensed towing companies will defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Borough of Dumont from any and all claims for personal injury or property damage against the Borough of Dumont arising out of the operation of any towing services or repair services under this chapter. Each towing company will further defend the Borough of Dumont, at the towing company's own expense, in connection with any claim, demand, suit or action brought against the Borough of Dumont arising out of the awarding or operation of any towing, garage or repair services under this chapter.
No towing company shall be included on the towing company list unless it has provided to the Borough, prior to rendering any services under this chapter, a certificate of insurance, certificates of insurance and/or insurance policy evidencing that there is in effect the following insurance coverage:
Garage liability insurance. Limit of liability shall not be less than $1,000,000 combined single limit (bodily injury and property damage) per occurrence including premises operations and products/completed operations.[1]
Garagekeepers legal liability insurance. Physical damage insurance policies shall be specifically endorsed to provide "direct primary" insurance, where applicable, for vehicles in tow, possession of, or storage on property owned or controlled by the towing company. Limit of said coverage shall be not less than $100,000.
Excess umbrella insurance. Limit of liability shall be not less than $1,000,000 providing protection in excess of the $1,000,000 garage and auto liability coverage. Note: This requirement may be waived if the limits of liability in Subsection A(1) and (2) above are not less than $1,500,000 combined single limit.[2]
Workers compensation insurance. Statutory coverage, including employer's liability coverage with a limit of at least $500,000/$500,000/$500,000
On all liability policies, the Borough of Dumont shall be added as an additional insured, and insurance certificates shall indicate such coverage as primary coverage notwithstanding any insurance carried by the Borough of Dumont.
The towing company shall indemnify the Borough of Dumont and the public against any loss due to injuries, accidents or damages of any character whatsoever where any such damage is the result of act or omission of the towing company, its agents or employees in or due to the execution of the work called for under the contract.
Certified copies of all insurance policies provided above or certificates thereof satisfactory to the Borough of Dumont shall be furnished forthwith. Each such policy or certificate shall contain a provision that it is not subject to change or non-renewal or cancellation unless 30 days prior written notice via certified mail/return receipt shall have been given to the Borough of Dumont by the towing company's insurer. These must be received 30 days prior to commencement of work.
The providing of any insurance required herein does not relieve the towing company of any of the responsibilities or obligations assumed by the towing company for which the towing company may be liable by law or otherwise.
If any policies contain deductibles or copayments, it shall be the responsibility of the towing company to pay such sums at the same time a claim is settled by the towing company's insurance company.
If any policies contain limits of liability with an aggregate limit, the towing company or the towing company's insurance company shall provide the Borough of Dumont quarterly during the policy period a statement evidencing the limits of liability required under this contract to be in force.
All policies shall be written in either a company licensed to do business in the State of New Jersey or a New Jersey eligible Surplus Lines Company, with a minimum Best rating of A-X. They shall be written on an ISO (Insurance Service Office) form or better.
Fees for towing and storage of private passenger vehicles, damaged in an accident or recovered after being stolen, may not exceed the fees established by the New Jersey Department of Insurance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 17:33B-47.[1] Those towing and storage fees, which are set forth in N.J.A.C. 11:3-38.1, are incorporated herein by reference.
Fee schedule for towing services, flatbed or wrecker (days, nights, holidays and weekends have one set price):[2]
Class A vehicles, noncommercial, up to 5,000 pounds: $100.
Class B vehicles, midsize trucks, 5,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds: $200.
Class C vehicles, 10,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds: $300.
Class heavy-duty, rate by hour: $300 minimum.
Towing out of area of tow company yard: $5 per mile.
Cleanup of debris on roadway: $45.
Winching, if needed, or extra truck: $75 per 1/2 hour.
Storage fees.[3]
Accidents and impounds: $45 per day.
Inside storage (motorcycles, mopeds, etc.): $55 per day.
Pursuant to law, the fee schedules 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 towing companies and this chapter shall be amended accordingly.
Editor's Note: Said statute was repealed by L. 1997, c. 387, § 6, effective 1-19-1998.
Fees for towing and storage of private passenger vehicles, other than those damaged in an accident or recovered after being stolen, may not exceed the fees set forth above.
The fees set forth on the schedule for towing rates are the maximum charges that shall apply to a private passenger automobile for basic towing services rendered as a result of an accident or theft recovery. There shall be no additional charges other than those provided herein, including but not limited to flatbedding, waiting time, winching, cleanup cost, and additional labor when only basic towing services as defined are provided.[4]
The towing rates shall be calculated based on the total distance travelled from the tow vehicle's base of service to the job site and return, by the way of the shortest available route. Fractions shall be rounded up to the nearest whole mile.
The fees set forth on the schedule for storage fees are the maximum storage charges per twenty-four-hour period that shall apply to a private passenger automobile that is stored by a person as a result of an accident or theft recovery.
Trucks may be charged at a higher rate in line with customary and reasonable rates in the industry.
Copies of this chapter and the schedule of fees that may be charged by towing companies shall be made available to the public during normal business hours at the Borough Hall. Copies shall also be made available to the public at each towing company's place of business.
All towing companies shall post, in a prominent place at each storage area clearly visible to the public, a schedule of the fees that may be charged for all services provided pursuant to this chapter.
The Borough shall have the right to make periodic unannounced inspections of the personnel, vehicles, equipment and storage areas of all towing companies.
The relationship between the towing company 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 furnished by any party be construed to be an employee or agent of the other party. Inclusion on the towing companies list shall not be construed or considered as a joint venture, partnership, association, contract of employment or profit sharing agreement.
The Borough of Dumont shall not be liable or responsible for compensating the towing companies 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 towing company shall proceed directly against the owner.
The towing company shall, at all times, be solely responsible for the conduct of its employees.
Each towing company 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 towing company 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.
In the event a complaint is received by the Borough involving the improper or unsatisfactory performance of services by a towing, excessive charges or damage to a motor vehicle while in the custody of the towing company, written notice of same shall be provided by the Borough to the towing company involved and the company shall have the opportunity to respond, in writing, within five days.
Within 14 days of receipt of the towing company's response, or within 21 days of the receipt of the complaint, if no response is received, the matter shall be presented to the governing body.
The governing body shall consider the matter at a regular public meeting and may request that the complainant and the towing company involved appear and give testimony regarding the complaint.
If, after considering the matter, the governing body shall determine that one of the causes for revocation of the towing company's license, as set forth in § 416-6, exists, the license shall be revoked and the towing company shall forthwith surrender same to the Chief of Police.
Nothing contained herein shall prevent or limit the right of any person to commence or maintain an action for damages or any other relief directly against a towing company in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Any person, towing company, entity, firm, partnership or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter and/or who shall fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction, be subject to a minimum fine of $100, and a maximum fine of $1,000; or with imprisonment, for a term not exceeding 90 days, or both.
Each day that a violation of this chapter exists and continues shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense.
In addition to the fines and penalties provided above, a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be a cause for revocation of the towing company's license.