[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 306, Towing.
[Amended 12-14-2021 by Ord. No. O-21-36]
A. 
Storage.
(1) 
Vehicle storage fees will start the following calendar day the vehicle is towed. For example, if a vehicle is towed at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, the storage fees will commence at 12:00 midnight on Tuesday.
(2) 
A vehicle may be released Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Storage facilities shall also designate either a Saturday or Sunday, or both, for weekend vehicle release. At minimum, weekend vehicle release hours shall be from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on the designated day(s). Storage facilities may expand weekend vehicle release hours at their discretion.
(3) 
When a storage facility is closed on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, and the owner claims the vehicle by 12:00 noon the next business day with a valid release dated prior to said Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the fee shall be 1/2 the normal rate. The full fee shall apply to all other preceding Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays that the vehicle has been stored.
B. 
Towing rates.
(1) 
Charges shall be paid by the vehicle owner or driver for transportation, hauling or service of disabled vehicles or for any unoccupied vehicle parked or standing in violation of any provisions of New Jersey State law, the Code of the Township of Howell, or which shall be deemed a nuisance and a menace to the safe and proper regulation of traffic, and any police officer may provide for the removal of such vehicle by an approved tow truck or operator of any approved tow truck.
(2) 
The owner thereof shall pay the costs of the removal and storage before regaining possession of the vehicle according to the following rates:
Towing - Basic
Light duty - up to 10,000 pounds
Hookup: $150
Heavy duty - 10,001 pounds and above
$500 per hour
Decoupling fee (if tow is not performed)
1/2 of basic rate
NOTE: Includes certified towing operator
Recovery/Winching
(in addition to towing - per truck, including driver)
Light duty - up to 10,000 pounds
$87.50 per 15 minutes
Heavy duty - 10,001 pounds and above
$600 per hour
Specialized Recovery Equipment
Rotator/crane recovery
$1,200 per hour
Tractor with Landoll trailer or detach trailer
$450 per hour
Tractor/transport hauler only
$250 per hour
Refrigerated trailer with tractor
$450 per hour
Box trailer with tractor
$400 per hour
Air cushion unit
$1,000 per hour
Light tower
$250 per hour
Pallet jacket
$200 flat rate
Rollers
$200 flat rate
Any other specialized equipment
$250 per hour
Loader/backhoe/telescopic handler/bulldozer/Bobcat (includes all attachments)
$300 per hour each
Forklift
$300 per hour
Dump truck/dump trailer with tractor
$350 per hour
Roll-off with container
$350 per hour plus disposal
Communication equipment
$250 per hour
Recovery support vehicle/trailer additional recovery equipment
$350 per hour
Labor
(minimum of 1 hour)
Accident minor cleanup and disposal of debris
$75 per hour (one hour minimum) plus absorbent materials used
Speedy Dry application
$55 per bag
Recovery Supervisor and/or Level III Recovery Specialist
$225 per hour
Certified towing operator
$125 per hour per man
Manual laborers
$100 per hour per man
Storage - billed per calendar day
(inside rates two times outside rate)
Cars/light trucks - 10-foot-by-20-foot space
$45 per day
Trucks (dual wheels)/single axle
$90 per day
Tractor/dump truck/tractor and trailer combo/trailers
$125 per unit per day
Buses
$150 per day
Roll-off
$125 per day for each
Cargo/accident debris/load storage/vehicle components 10-foot-by-20-foot space
$45 per space used per day
Rental of any tow-company-supplied trailer post-incident
$500 per day
Additional services/notes
Fuel/hazmat/cargo spills cleanup and disposal
Time and material
Hazmat and trash recovery
Surcharged 10%
Subtractor markup
10%
Administrative charge only after 3rd visit to vehicle
Cars only: $50
After-hours release
$75
Driver waiting on scene
$25 after waiting for 30 minutes
Tarping/wrapping vehicle
$25 per window (up to 3 windows)
$90 per car
$250 per truck
Service call (changing of flat tire or providing fuel)
$40 plus cost of fuel provided
Fuel surcharge
Reserved for future need
NOTE: After the first hour, all hourly billable rates will be charged in half-hour increments.
(a) 
Recovery and/or winching service is an additional charge and is not included when a standard tow is performed. See fee schedule for charge cost.
(b) 
There is no mileage fee included in a standard tow. If the driver of a vehicle requests the vehicle to be towed to an establishment other than the storage facility, a side bar agreement can be made between the tow company and the driver of the vehicle.
(c) 
All authorized towers shall carry an approved two-gallon fuel container.
(3) 
All charges under this Subsection B are exclusive of tax.
(4) 
Every owner of a tow truck shall give the owner of the vehicle a written and itemized receipt for the fee paid. Copies of receipts shall be maintained by the tow operator for two years and shall be available for inspection by authorized Township officials.
(5) 
Rates specified herein will be reviewed by the Township Manager on a yearly basis at the anniversary of the adoption of this section. Operators are permitted to petition the Township Administrator, in writing, as to prevailing rates. Amendments to this section will be accomplished.
(6) 
The tow rates for vehicles owned by Howell Township shall be as follows:
(a) 
Tows originating from anywhere within Monmouth County or any adjoining county shall be at a rate of $75 per hour.
(b) 
Tows originating from any other location shall be at the basic towing rate.
C. 
Unclaimed vehicles. On a monthly basis, the tow companies will provide the Howell Township Police Department designee with a list of vehicles they towed for the Howell Township Police Department that remain in their yard. This list will be provided before their next rotation.