Source: http://ecode360.com/13166941
Timestamp: 2016-06-30 01:18:07
Document Index: 456744458

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 159', '§ 159', '§ 159', '§ 159', '§ 159', '§ 159']

the City of Hackensack 9-2-2008 by Ord. No. 16-2008.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former
Ch. 159, Towers and Wreckers, adopted 10-18-1982 by Ord. No. 23-82,
Chapter 159: Towers and Wreckers
Equipment and insurance.
Powers and duties of Chief of Police.
Annual list of approved towing operators.
Removal of unauthorized vehicles from public and private property.
Trespass towing.
in any fashion intended, likely or calculated to solicit business.
Any fragments at the scene of a towing assignment for which
the removal will require no additional personnel or special equipment,
i.e., broken glass, vehicle parts, or other items.
A person, firm or corporation who or which owns and/or operates
a vehicle on the roads and highways within the City of Hackensack,
which vehicle, by reason of being disabled or being unlawfully upon
said roads, requires towing services.
The release of vehicle cargo or contents where the removal
may require the use of extra personnel and/or specialized equipment.
and who or which is licensed under the provisions of this chapter.
kinds of vehicles or parts of vehicles which are unable to be operated
A. License required. No towing operator shall operate
within the City of Hackensack without obtaining a license in accordance
B. The fee for the license issued under this chapter
shall be $500. The license shall remain in effect from January 1 to
December 31 of each year or any part thereof. It may be renewed annually
by the operator paying a fee of $500. Before December 31 of any year,
the City Council may, by resolution, authorize the extension of permits
beyond December 31 of that year for a period not to exceed six months
for all permits that were previously issued and remain valid at the
date of the resolution. All licenses issued for the calendar year
wherein the resolution was passed shall be extended without the requirement
for payment to renew the license. Upon termination of the extension,
all licensees may renew their permit by paying a fee of $500 as previously
An application for a license as a proprietor
of a towing or wrecking business shall be made by the person or firm
engaged in operating a wrecker or wreckers. The application shall
be made on forms furnished by the Police Department and specifically
report the following facts:
A. The full name and address of the applicant. If the
application is made for a corporation, it shall state the names and
addresses of all officers and directors thereof, its registered office
and its registered agent.
B. The year, make and type of each wrecker used in said
business, its vehicle identification number, registration number and
C. The street address of the applicant's storage facilities,
including a description of size and capacity.
D. The address where the wrecker or wreckers shall be
regularly garaged, the telephone numbers available on a twenty-four-hour-per-day
basis and the names of all operators, their addresses and copy of
their current New Jersey driver's license.
E. In order to ensure rapid response to requests for
service, all applicants who are named as official City towers shall
maintain a regular place of business within the City of Hackensack.
By making application to be licensed as a towing
operator in the City of Hackensack, the person or firm agrees to the
A. Provide a prompt, courteous response to each call.
B. Collect and remove all debris at the accident site
emanating from the accident, free of charge, unless it involves a
major spillage.
C. Provide the Police Department with the following information,
free of charge, on vehicles unclaimed over 30 days:
(1) Year, make, color and vehicle identification number.
(2) Owner's name and address.
(3) Copy of a certified letter advising the owner of the
vehicle's whereabouts.
(4) Photograph of vehicle.
(5) Any other items or information deemed necessary by
the Police Department concerning any vehicle.
D. Maintain a record in a bound volume of all towing
and wrecking jobs handled, on public or private property, the name
of the owner or operator involved, the charge made for the service,
and the date and amount of payment. The tower will also provide a
three-part receipt book. The receipts will be issued as follows:
(1) The original shall be issued to the vehicle owner
upon completion of payment of charges.
(2) Hackensack Police Department, to be forwarded to the
Traffic Division within 14 days after payment for services by the
(3) Tower's copy, to be kept on file at the tower's business
as a record of transaction.
E. Maintain a written schedule of all rates and charges,
in compliance with this agreement, and make such schedule available
when requested; have conspicuously displayed at the place of business,
either painted or permanently affixed, a schedule of maximum towing
charges and storage charges permitted by this chapter. Business hours
shall be posted. Whenever practicable, the owner or driver of any
vehicle utilizing towing service shall be given a copy of a full statement
of rates at the time that the towing services are rendered. In any
event, a full schedule of rates shall be annexed to each bill for
F. No towing operator or firm licensed under this chapter
may charge rates in excess of the following for towing, conveying,
road service or storage of a motor vehicle:
(1) Service charges shall be as follows:
(a) For road service at any time: $50, plus reasonable
costs of any materials, i.e., oil, gas, fluids, etc.
(b) No charge for release of vehicle from storage
[1] The tower must be available to release any towed/stored
vehicles between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Mondays through
Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
(2) Towing charges.
(a) Towing charges shall be:
[1] For automobiles and motorcycles: $125, plus
an administrative fee of $25 payable to the City of Hackensack. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, SUVs and mini vans without commercial plates
shall be considered an automobile for the purposes of this chapter.[Amended 4-18-2012 by Ord. No. 7-2012]
[2] If and in the event a tower responds to an accident,
or other motorist difficulty, and the motorist requests that the tower
bring the car to a location other than the tower's place of business,
then the tower may charge an additional fee of $5 per mile, to be
measured from the Hackensack City limits.
[3] (Reserved)
[4] For trucks under 10,000 pounds: $200, plus an
administrative fee of $25 payable to the City of Hackensack.
[5] For trucks 10,000 pounds to 26,000 pounds: $300,
plus an administrative fee of $25 payable to the City of Hackensack.
[6] For trucks over 26,000 pounds: $400, plus an
(b) In no event shall the tower be required to tow
the vehicle more than 10 miles out of the City limits, in a direct
line and measurement, unless agreed upon by the tower.
(c) The base fee of $150 is under the presumption
that the car will be towed to the tower's lot.
(d) If and in the event a tow is required which
must be performed under extraordinary circumstances as determined
by the police personnel at the scene, then additional charges may
be charged for services rendered.
(3) There shall be no charge for storage for the first
24 hours. The storage charge after the initial 24 hours shall be as
(a) Automobiles and motorcycles shall be $25 per
(b) Vehicles 2,500 pounds to 3,400 pounds shall
be $35 per day.
(c) Vehicles over 3,400 pounds shall be $45 per
(d) If and in the event a towed vehicle is larger
than a standard parking space (such as a bus or large truck), then
the storage charge shall be $55 per day.
A. The licensee shall be responsible for the inspection
and operation of its equipment. Each wrecker must meet all of the
requirements of the New Jersey Revised Statutes, Title 39, Motor Vehicle
Rules and Regulations, and have a boom-lifting capacity of at least
four tons. In addition, each wrecker must have the following equipment:
(1) One large broom and shovel.
(2) At least one set of dolly wheels.
(3) Steering wheel lock for towing vehicles from the rear.
(4) Tow-sling-type tow bar to prevent any part of the
crane metal from touching the towed vehicle.
(5) Emergency warning lights.
(6) Portable safety lights to be installed on the rear
of a towed vehicle if necessary.
(7) Safety flares for night work.
(8) Any standard equipment necessary for performing road
B. The application for a towing and wrecking license
shall be accompanied by a certificate of liability insurance for said
wrecker in the policy limits of no less than $1,000,000 for one person,
$2,000,000 for one accident and $500,000 for property damage. The
certificate of insurance shall be issued by a company certified to
do business in New Jersey, and each policy so required must contain
an endorsement providing for 30 days' notice to the City of Hackensack
in the event of any material changes in the policy or cancellation
Any tower wishing to tow and/or store vehicles
within the boundaries of Hackensack must apply to the City of Hackensack
by way of application. Within 20 days after receipt of an application,
the Chief of Police shall commence an investigation of the applicant
and its business operations. Upon completion of the investigation,
the Chief of Police shall make his recommendation to the City Manager
with respect to the grant or denial of a tow truck operator's license.
The Chief of Police shall recommend approval of an application when
he finds that the following requirements and certifications have been
A. That the insurance policies as required have been
procured and supplied.
B. That the applicant has certified that the proposed
operators are properly licensed and qualified to operate the tow truck
and conduct a tow truck service in the City of Hackensack.
C. That the applicant has certified that the requirements
of this chapter and all other statutes have been met.
D. That the applicant has certified that the vehicle
has been properly licensed and inspected by the State of New Jersey
and has the necessary stickers affixed. No vehicle shall be licensed
as a tow truck which is using dealer's plates or which has failed
E. The applicant shall see that a business record is
maintained containing the names, addresses, and twenty-four-hour telephone
numbers of all licensed wreckers and a record of the types of wreckers
A. The Chief of Police, or his designee, is hereby given
the authority to hold administrative hearings with regard to violations
of the terms and conditions of this chapter if the tower is found
guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter. Notice
must be given to the person or firm of any alleged violations of this
chapter. Within 30 days of such notice, a hearing shall be conducted
by the Chief of Police, or his designee, unless additional time is
requested by the alleged violator, not to exceed an additional 30
days. The person or firm charged with such violations shall be given
an opportunity to present evidence at this hearing.
B. The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall render
a decision regarding the suspension or revocation of the license within
10 business days of the hearing. The person or firm whose license
is revoked or suspended may appeal this decision to the Mayor and
Council within 10 days of the date of the decision by the Chief of
Police, or his designee.
If and in the event a tower is summoned by the
police and arrives at the scene of an accident, and the vehicle owner
refuses to allow the vehicle to be towed by said tower, the towing
company may charge a service fee of $20 which shall be paid by the
owner or operator of the vehicle.
If, for any reason, any section or any part
of a section, paragraph, or provision of this chapter shall be held
to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect any
other section or any part of a section, paragraph or provision of
Any towing company found guilty in the Municipal
Court of the City of Hackensack of a violation of the terms of this
chapter shall be subject to a fine as follows:
A. First offense: not less than $1,000 and not more than
$2,500, and/or up to 30 days' imprisonment.
B. Second offense: not less than $2,500 and not more
than $5,000, and/or 30 days' imprisonment.
C. Third offense: not less than $5,000 and not more than
$10,000 and/or 30 days' imprisonment.
D. All other subsequent offenses shall result in a minimum
penalty of $5,000, not more than $10,000, and/or up to 90 days' imprisonment.
A. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(u),
the Mayor and Council shall annually establish a list of approved
towing operators to provide those towing services requested by the
City of Hackensack or any departments thereof. Such towing services
shall be provided on an equal and rotating basis. Any such towing
operator on said list may not delegate his, her or its responsibilities
to another towing operator not so listed.
B. To qualify for such listing, the towing operator shall be the holder, in good standing, of a City license issued pursuant to §§ 159-2 and 159-3 of this chapter and shall have reasonable and adequate motor vehicle storage facilities located within the City of Hackensack.
Any tower who engages in the removal of vehicles
from public or private property must be licensed by the City of Hackensack
unless summoned by the owner or operator of the vehicle.
A. No vehicle shall be removed to a storage facility
located at a distance greater than 7.5 miles from the intersection
of Central Avenue and State Street in the City of Hackensack.
B. No towing operator so engaged shall charge any rates greater than those authorized by § 159-4F of this chapter; nor shall any charge be made for any service not specifically set forth in § 159-4F of chapter.
C. Whenever a vehicle is towed from private property,
the Hackensack Police Department shall be immediately notified as
to the reason of the towing; the year, make and model, and license
number of the vehicle; the name and address of the owner, if known;
the name and address of the tower; and the address or location to
which the vehicle was towed. A summons must also be issued before
towing off private property.
D. A copy of the payment receipt shall be provided to the Hackensack Police Department in accordance with § 159-4D(2).
The following provisions shall apply to any
towing operator when engaged by the owner or other person in control
or possession of private property to remove therefrom an unauthorized
A. Posting of warning signs.
(1) No vehicle shall be towed from a private parking lot
for designated parking violations unless a sign is conspicuously posted
and clearly visible from all vehicle and pedestrian entrances to the
property indicating the following:
(a) A warning that the property is a private tow-away
zone and a vehicle not authorized to park on the property will be
(b) The telephone number of the person or entity
from whom a towed vehicle can be recovered.
(c) A statement that the vehicle may be recovered
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday,
and 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
(2) A warning sign is not required as a condition precedent
to towing a vehicle blocking a private entrance, exit, driveway, fire
lane or loading area; neither shall this section apply to statutory
parking violations relating to handicapped parking or nonconsensual
tows directed by a governmental enforcement officer.
B. No towing service operating within the City of Hackensack
shall tow a vehicle or charge for its services where the registered
owner or other legally authorized person in control of the vehicle
arrives at the scene prior to towing the vehicle from the lot and:
(1) Agrees to immediately remove the vehicle from the
(2) Provides the towing operator with his or her name,
address and vehicle information as set forth on the vehicle registration.
(3) A fee of $35.00 shall be paid to the towing company
by the owner of the vehicle.
C. No vehicles removed from private property shall be
stored on public property, including public streets.
D. No towing operator engaged by a private party shall charge rates greater than those authorized by § 159-4F of this chapter; nor shall any charge be made for any service not specifically set forth in § 159-4F of this chapter.