[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Johnson City 7-17-2018 by L.L. No. 9-2018.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 264.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Ch. 258,
Towing, adopted 10-5-1993.
The intent of this procedure is to provide for the prompt and
safe removal of vehicles that are disabled, abandoned, or otherwise
need to be removed via tow truck from public roadways at the direction
of the Police Department under an established fair and uniform regulation.
It is important for the safety and convenience to other motorists
that said vehicles are removed as promptly as possible, that delay
in removal can result in unnecessary traffic congestion, confusion,
and delay and may result in secondary crashes. This policy shall not
supersede any specific orders issued by the Chief of Police either
through special or general orders of the Chief addressing specific
situations such as vehicles impounded for criminal investigative purposes.
There shall be a regular duty towing rotational list for passenger
vehicles or small trucks less than 10,000 pounds, and a separate rotational
heavy duty towing list for larger vehicles 10,000 pounds or more.
The procedure for selection from the rotational tow list and dispatch
of a tow firm upon the request by the Police Department is handled
by the 911 Communications Center, pursuant to the Policy and Procedures
of the Broome County Office of Emergency Services.
The towing firms can participate on either or both the light
and/or heavy tow list at any time. Vacancies on the list shall be
filled on a first-come, first-served basis from eligible applicants.
The requirements for placement on a rotational towing list shall
be as follows:
A.
The towing firm must have a minimum insurance liability policy of
$1,000,000 protecting their activities while operating within the
Village of Johnson City. A copy of said certificate of insurance shall
be approved by the Village Attorney and filed with the Village of
Johnson City Police.
B.
The towing firm must supply the Johnson City Police, Traffic Division,
with a list of all equipment at their disposal, including truck weights,
capacities, make, year and registration numbers. Required towing equipment
for placement on the regular-duty towing rotational list must be at
least one conventional tow truck with wheel-lift, and one rollback.
Required towing equipment for placement on the heavy-duty towing rotational
list must be at least one large capacity tow truck with a rating of
at least 20 tons. Towing firm trucks must also meet the following
requirements:
(1)
Must be clearly marked and lettered with the towing firm's name
and phone number in at least three-inch lettering of contrasting color.
(2)
Must have at least one or more amber lights affixed and visible to
all approaching traffic from a distance of 500 feet and said lighting
shall be displayed when the tow truck is engaged in a hazardous operation.
(3)
Must be equipped with speedy dry or similar absorption material to
clean minor spills, as well as a broom, shovel, and other proper equipment
to clean up the scene.
C.
The towing firm must provide a twenty-four-hour service, accept all
calls given to it by the Village Police Department (staffing permitting)
and maintain a response time of 20 minutes or less.
D.
The towing firm must supply the Police Department, Traffic Division,
with a photo copy of the driver's license for each employee who
operates their equipment; all drivers must maintain a valid license
applicable to the class of tow truck they operate. The Police Department
must be supplied with an updated photo copy of the driver license
of any new employee after initial application and assignment to the
rotational tow list.
E.
The towing firm must supply the Police Department, Traffic Division,
with a complete listing of all current towing, storage, additional
and/or incidental fees that will be charged for services rendered.
The Police Department must be supplied with a new list if any said
fees are changed.
F.
The towing firm shall provide a storage lot which is located within
the limits of the Village of Johnson City, or within one mile of the
boundaries of the Village of Johnson City. The storage lot shall be
lighted and secured and insured to store towed vehicles. Reasonable
measures shall be taken to prevent theft and/or damage to the vehicles.
Towing firms shall furnish a key to the Police Department to allow
access to said storage lot so that officers will have access to finish
their investigations.
G.
The towing firm shall tow all vehicles to their determined storage
lot located in the Village of Johnson City, or within one mile of
the boundaries of the Village of Johnson City, and shall not tow vehicles
outside of the Village unless directed to by the owner or the police.
No towed vehicle shall be stored on a public street.
H.
All towing company premises, including the location of the towing
company and the location of the vehicle storage facility, shall be
in compliance with all local zoning, building, and fire safety codes,
and shall comply with all New York State and federal regulations limiting
or otherwise governing the use of said properties.
I.
Towing firms shall maintain complete and accurate records concerning
all vehicles towed. Such records shall be maintained for at least
one year after a towed vehicle has been retrieved or has otherwise
been released out of the possession of the towing firm. These records
shall be readily available for inspection by the Chief of Police or
designee.
J.
All towing firms shall be required to remove all debris related to
the incident to which they are called, in accordance with New York
State Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1219(c). A towing firm called
to the scene of a crash involving serious injury or death, or where
a police investigation is ongoing, shall not remove or otherwise cause
to be disturbed any debris or move or reposition any vehicles until
directed by police personnel on scene to do so.
K.
All towing firms shall maintain all licenses and insurance required
by the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, and all equipment used
shall comply with the Vehicle and Traffic Law and the rules and regulations
of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (Title 15 of the NYCCR). All
equipment used shall be in good operating condition, and all towing
firm personnel shall be properly trained and fully competent to perform
their functions and shall perform those functions in a courteous and
orderly manner.
L.
Application.
(1)
Any towing firm that meets the eligibility requirements may complete
and submit an application to be added to the rotational tow list.
The application shall contain the following:
(a)
The name and address of the owner and operator of the towing
firm;
(b)
The address where the towing firm is or will be located;
(c)
The address where motor vehicles towed by the towing firm shall
be stored;
(d)
The name and address of the owner of the premises where towed
vehicles are to be stored;
(e)
If the towing firm is owned or will be owned by a partnership,
corporation, or other business entity or association, then the names
and addresses of each partner, officer, principal, or owner or part
owner however titled shall be listed on the application;
(f)
All names listed on the application shall be full legal names,
and all addresses shall be home addresses, listing street and number
of each such residence;
(g)
The telephone number to be called for the retrieval of any motor
vehicle towed by the towing firm;
(h)
The hours of operation the towing firm will be open for the
towing of motor vehicles;
(i)
The hours of operation the towing firm will be open for towed
vehicles to be retrieved;
(2)
The above notwithstanding, the Police Department may require such
additional information as may be necessary in order to fully enforce
and administer this chapter.
M.
Upon receipt of an application, the Police Department shall investigate
the proposed location of the vehicle storage facility to determine
compliance with this chapter and to determine whether public safety
problems exist. The Department shall also make such investigation
as is deemed appropriate or necessary regarding the background of
any information listed on the license application.
N.
Towing firms' position on the rotational list, once assigned,
is not transferable. Towing firms are not permitted to subcontract
any tow call to another towing firm. All towing firms must have their
own tow truck available and able to respond in order to fulfill a
request for service made by the Police Department.
The Police Department shall give written notice to an applicant
of the reason or reasons for the denial.
The rotational tow list shall remain valid until a towing firm
withdrawals from the list, a towing firm's status on the list
is revoked as a result of terms as set forth by this chapter, or the
list is disbanded by resolution of the Village Board.
A.
The Chief of Police or designee is charged with ensuring compliance
with this chapter.
B.
A towing firm's assignment to the list may be suspended or revoked
if the towing firm violates any federal, New York State, or local
law, ordinance, rule or regulation regarding the operation of the
towing business or the fitness to conduct that business.
C.
Any towing firm that refuses calls by the Police Department (unless
said firm is unavailable due to being on another service call which
prohibits being able to timely respond) or fails to answer calls from
the Police Department three times within a six-month period, will
have their assignment to the list revoked and must reapply to be reinstated
to the list. The Police Department shall provide written notice to
the towing firm for each incident outlining the failure by the towing
firm.
D.
For a violation of this chapter, the Police Department shall issue
written notice to the towing firm containing a statement of the manner
in which the firm is alleged to be in violation of this law and the
date of the hearing to be held within 10 days' after written
notice is given to the firm either in person or by registered mail
addressed to the licensee on file.
E.
A towing firm's assignment to the list shall not be revoked
without the hearing first taking place; however, the Chief of Police
may suspend the firm's assignment to the list where there are
safety concerns or concerns that the alleged violation may be repeated
prior to the holding of the hearing. In the event that the towing
firm's assignment to the list is suspended, the firm shall have
the right to file a written notice of appeal with the Chief of Police
within 10 days of the date of the notice of suspension or revocation.
Determination of appeals should be made by the Chief of Police or
his or her designee within 30 days of receipt of the appeal.
Each towing firm on the rotational tow list must supply the
owner/operator of a vehicle who is at the scene with a card containing
their business name, address, phone numbers, hours of operation and
summary of the expected charges.
Nothing within this chapter shall prevent a vehicle owner from
choosing to call a tower who is not on the Village towing list or
to request a AAA tow; provided, however, that should that owner be
unable to respond in what the police officer at the scene feels is
a reasonable period of time and the police officer at the scene has
safety concerns regarding the vehicles' location, the officer
may supersede the desires of the owner and call a tower based upon
the lists.
The towing firm on the rotational tow list, upon completion
of a tow or roadside service rendered, shall levy charges against
the rightful owner of the vehicle. No fee may be levied for a response
that does not result in either the removal of a vehicle or any on-scene
roadside service rendered. The cost of the towing or service shall
be the responsibility of the vehicle owner or operator.
All towing firms desiring to be on the rotational tow lists
must provide the Village Police Department with proof of all of the
requirements set forth here in advance of the effective date of this
chapter. Following the establishment of the initial rotational tow
list, the Village will update the list, based upon any new applications,
as needed.
Each towing service operator on a rotational tow list shall
agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Village from any
claims or liabilities which may occur as a result of performing service
at the request of the Police Department.
