Florida Administrative Code › 15 - DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES › 15B - Division of Florida Highway Patrol › Chapter 15B-9 - WRECKER QUALIFICATIONS AND ALLOCATION SYSTEM › Section 15B-9.005 - Wrecker Classification and Required Equipment

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Each tow
				truck owned or maintained by a wrecker operator shall be commercially
				manufactured and shall conform to the requirements of this rule. The
				requirements for commercial manufacture of trucks and equipment are waived for
				those operators who have been on the division's rotation list for one year
				prior to January 22, 1986. The wrecker and equipment shall be
				operable.
(2) The tow truck and
				equipment shall be inspected by the division's local troop commander or his
				designee and approved by the troop commander before being placed on the
				rotation list. Thereafter, trucks and equipment shall be subject to periodic
				checks as necessary to ensure compliance with these rules.
(3) Sirens on wreckers are
				prohibited.
(4) The wrecker
				operator shall not represent or imply on any vehicle, building or
				correspondence an official relationship between the wrecker operator and the
				division or any other police agency.
(5) It is prohibited for a tow truck or the
				business establishment maintained by the wrecker operator to have any equipment
				capable of monitoring messages or signals or frequencies assigned to the
				division.
(6) All trucks operated
				pursuant to this rule shall be equipped with a business-type communication
				radio or mobile telephone or cellular telephone. There shall be one radio or
				phone for each truck. Such equipment shall be licensed and approved by the
				Federal Communications Commission. The mobile radio or telephone shall enable
				the wrecker operator to communicate with his area of operations from any point
				within the assigned zone. A citizens band radio does not meet the requirements
				of this section. The troop commander may waive this requirement for all wrecker
				operators within a zone upon a showing that due to the limited number of
				operators in a zone that the installation of such communication devices is
				unnecessary or cost prohibitive or that the service is not readily
				available.
(7) Specifications and
				required equipment shall be as follows:
(a)
				ALL wreckers (All Classifications) shall include the following:
1. A cradle, tow plate or tow sling to pick
				up vehicles. The cradle, tow plate or tow sling shall be equipped with safety
				chains and constructed in such a manner that it will not damage the vehicle to
				be towed.
2. Dual rear
				wheels.
3. Clearance and marker
				lights and all other equipment as required by Chapter 316, F.S.
4. A rotor beam or strobe-type light, amber
				in color, mounted on the wrecker in such a manner that it can be seen from the
				front, rear, and both sides.
5. The
				name, address and telephone number of the wrecker operator for the zone in
				which the operator is qualified must be painted or permanently affixed in a
				conspicuous place on both sides of the trucks as required by Section
				 713.78(6), F.S.
				A unit number shall be painted on both sides of the cab of each wrecker. The
				same unit number on two or more wreckers qualified to tow within a zone is
				prohibited. Multiple addresses and telephone numbers are prohibited.
a. The name must be in letters at least three
				(3) inches in height.
b. The zone
				address and telephone number must be at least one (1) inch in height.
c. The unit number must be at least three (3)
				inches in height and in contrasting color.
d. Magnetic or removal signs or placards will
				not meet these requirements.
6. At least one heavy duty push broom with a
				minimum width of twenty-four (24) inches.
7. One square shovel.
8. One ax.
9. One crowbar or prybar with a minimum
				length of thirty (30) inches.
10.
				Minimum of one (1) five pound CO2 or dry chemical fire
				extinguisher or equivalent. Must be approved type and have a current inspection
				tag attached.
11. One pair of bolt
				cutters with a minimum opening of 1/2 inch.
12. One set of jumper cables.
13. One four-way lug wrench.
14. One flashlight.
15. Five thirty minute fuses.
16. One snatch block for each winch with
				manufacturer's rating to match winch.
17. Extra towing chain six to eight feet in
				length with hooks.
18. At least
				three (3) safety cones or triangle reflectors.
19. Fifty pounds of sand or
				equivalent.