Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 595 - Department of Public Safety › Chapter 25 - Wreckers and Towing Services › Subchapter 5 - All Wrecker Operators › Section 595:25-5-3 - Operation

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
All operators using the public roads and highways within the
				  State of Oklahoma shall comply with the following:
(1) All operators shall require each driver
				of a wrecker vehicle be proficient in the operation thereof and be properly
				licensed for the type of vehicle operated.
(2) No operator shall knowingly permit any
				operator of a wrecker vehicle to consume beer, wine, intoxicating beverages,
				drugs or other stimulants or depressants while subject to call nor knowingly
				permit any operator to come on duty after having inhaled or consumed any such
				beverage, drug or other stimulants or depressants.
(3) No operator shall proceed to the scene of
				a collision or traffic tie-up without being requested to do so by a law
				enforcement agency or the owner or driver of a vehicle involved.
(4) Any operator traveling on the roads and
				highways of the State of Oklahoma during the normal course of his business may,
				upon arriving at the scene of a collision or traffic tie-up, stop and assist in
				rendering emergency aid. However, the operator shall not solicit business
				directly or indirectly from the owner or drivers at the scene.
(5) An operator at the scene of a collision
				or traffic tie-up is subject to the same traffic-control directions issued by
				an officer to the motoring public.
(6) An operator shall not use the rotating or
				flashing light while traveling on the roadway en route to any location. The use
				of the flashing or rotating light is authorized only in the vicinity of hook-up
				or at the scene of an incident to protect the scene and the vehicle involved.
				Only amber flashing lights may be used when leaving the scene of a wrecker
				service call for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles to
				exercise care in approaching, overtaking, or passing. [47 O.S. § 12-218.1]
(7) Each operator must conduct the
				operation of the storage facilities and towing service in a responsible manner
				so as not to endanger the public safety of persons or property of others in the
				custody of the operator.
(8) No
				operator shall tow a vehicle when the combined weight of the wrecker vehicle
				and the wrecker supported weight of the towed vehicle exceeds the factory gross
				vehicle weight rating of the wrecker vehicle, regardless of the weight for
				which the wrecker vehicle is licensed.
(9) No wrecker service shall suspend, or
				abandon said service without prior written notice to this Department of such
				intent and returning of all wrecker licenses issued.
(10) Wrecker services and operators shall be
				responsible for the removal of any glass or other injurious substances dropped
				upon the highway or highway right-of-way at the location of an accident as
				required by title 47 O.S. §
									11-1110(C).
(11) Upon payment of the reasonable cost of
				removal, and storage of a stored vehicle, whether stored at the request of law
				enforcement or a private property owner and recorded by the wrecker service as
				provided in OAC
				595:25-5-5(b),
				the vehicle shall be released to:
(A) the
				owner, upon presentation of one (1) of each of the following:
(i) Proof of ownership:
(I) A valid certificate of title, to show
				proof of purchase and ownership to include tribal and other state titles;
				or
(II) Registration Receipt
				(Digital or Electronic verification shall be accepted); or
(III) Title properly assigned by the seller,
				dated, notarized (if required on title) and the owner 's name filled out on the
				title; or
(IV) Written verification
				from a local law enforcement agency as to the identity of the owner;
				or
(V) Other appropriate
				documentation sufficient to establish ownership.