[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Watertown
by Ord. No. 97-65 (§§ 12.055 and 12.06 of the former City Code). Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The Chief of Police may enter into contracts for and on behalf
of the City of Watertown for the towing and storage of vehicles. The
Chief of Police may only contract with companies authorized to provide
towing services under the Wisconsin Statutes and the regulations of
the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The Chief of Police may
contract with multiple companies, and the City of Watertown may utilize
the services of each company on a rotational or priority basis.
Any contract authorized under § 476-1 above shall provide that:
A.
The company have adequate towing equipment and storage facilities
suitable for designation as a police impound facility;
B.
The company have personnel available 24 hours a day;
C.
The company furnish the City of Watertown with an indemnification
agreement supported by a performance bond and indemnity bond or, in
lieu thereof, a certification of insurance to hold the City harmless
from any claims for damage or theft of the vehicles and personal property
therein contained when the vehicles are towed and/or stored;
D.
The company, not the City, be responsible for collecting the cost of all services provided at the request of the City from the owner or driver of the vehicle towed and/or stored, except for those vehicles or motor vehicle accessories towed and/or stored under the provisions of Chapter 497 (Abandoned and Junked Vehicles) of this Code; and
E.
The company will have a lien for towing and storage of vehicles,
pursuant to § 779.415, Wis. Stats.
[Amended by Ord. No. 02-07]
The City shall set the fee schedule to be included in each contract
and shall update the fee schedule as necessary upon the termination
of each contract. The Chief of Police may establish further rules,
regulations, specifications and conditions under which these contracts
shall be let.
No police officer or other official or employee of the City may request towing services and storage of vehicles, pursuant to this chapter or Chapter 497 of this Code, from other than the companies under contract with the City, unless the owner, driver or property owner specifically requests that the services of a particular company be utilized.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any person, firm, partnership, company, association or corporation
engaged in selling or furnishing towing services and authorized to
provide towing services and storage of vehicles under the Wisconsin
Statutes and regulations of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Any building, enclosure or place designated by the Chief
of Police for the storage of impounded motor vehicles, located on
private or public property.
Moving a vehicle from one place to another under other than
the vehicle's own power.
Any act toward the end of towing a vehicle.
Every device designed to transport either person or property
upon a highway, whether or not self-propelled, and whether or not
operable. This definition also includes equipment, accessories or
incomplete parts for use on a vehicle.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a penalty as provided in § 1-4 of this Code. Each violation and each day on which a violation of any provision of this chapter occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense. This section shall not preclude use of any other remedy available to the City to prevent or remove an offending condition.
