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Town of Huntington, NY
Suffolk County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Amended 1-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
All parties holding licenses, certificates or permits issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, as well as their agents and employees, will promptly answer all requests for information, documentation or any other requests made by the Suffolk County Police Department, the Town Clerk, the Department of Public Safety or any other proper federal, state, county or Town official.
It is unlawful for any person to transfer or assign any license, certificate or permit, or the identification device therefor, issued under the provisions of this chapter, to any other person or from one (1) vehicle to another.
A. 
Terms. All business licenses and vehicle certificates issued hereunder shall have a term of not more than one (1) year, and all operator permits issued hereunder shall have a term of not more than one (1) year, unless any shall be sooner suspended and/or revoked, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 1-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
B. 
Expirations. All business licenses, vehicle certificates and operators permits issued hereunder shall expire at 12:00 midnight on the first day of October next following the date of issuance, regardless of the date of issuance thereof.
[Amended 1-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
C. 
Renewals. Applications for renewal of all licenses, certificates and permits shall be made no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date thereof. An application for renewal of any license, certificate or permit made more than thirty (30) days after the expiration date thereof shall be subject to an additional penalty fee, as set forth herein.
A. 
Business owner's license.
(1) 
Issuance. Upon approval of an application, the Town Clerk shall issue to the business owner one (1) or more of the following licenses, as may be appropriate, bearing the title indicated hereinbelow:
[Amended 1-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
(a) 
"Business License: Class A: General Towing."
(b) 
"Business License: Class B: Police Response Towing."
(2) 
Posting. Licensees are responsible for maintaining said license conspicuously posted and securely fastened at their terminals in a clear and readable manner at all times.
(3) 
Contents. The license shall set forth the following information:
(a) 
Name and business address of the owner of the business so licensed.
(b) 
Signature and seal of the Town Clerk imprinted thereon.
(c) 
Statement certifying that the person and/or business to whom such permit is issued is authorized to operate that business for the purpose of towing vehicles for hire.
(d) 
Dates of issuance and expiration of such license and the number thereof.
B. 
Vehicle's certificate of operation.
(1) 
Issuance. Upon approval of an application, the Town Clerk shall issue for each vehicle one (1) of the following certificates, as may be appropriate, bearing the title indicated hereinbelow:
(a) 
"Certificate Of Operation: Towing."
(b) 
"Certificate Of Operation: Heavy-Duty Towing."
[Amended 1-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also repealed former Subsection B(1)(c), "Certificate of Operation: Heavy-Duty Towing," which immediately followed.
(2) 
Posting. Licensees, at all times, and permittees, while in possession of a vehicle, are responsible for maintaining said certificate conspicuously posted and securely fastened in the interior of said vehicle in a clear and readable manner. Permittees are further responsible for showing the reverse side of said certificate, containing the Schedule of Rates as filed with the Town Clerk, to anyone asking to see said schedule or questioning any charges to be imposed.
(3) 
Contents. The certificate shall set forth the following information:
(a) 
Name and business address of the owner of the vehicle and the business which is certified to use said vehicle for the purpose of towing vehicles for hire.
(b) 
Name and business address of the certificate of operation holder, if different.
(c) 
Signature and seal of the Town Clerk imprinted thereon.
(d) 
Statement certifying that the vehicle to which such certificate is issued is authorized to be used for the purpose of towing vehicles for hire by said business.
(e) 
Statement certifying that the business to which such certificate is issued is authorized to engage in the business of towing vehicles.
(f) 
Dates of issuance and expiration of such certificate, and the numbers thereof.
(g) 
Make, type, seating capacity, name of owner, New York State Vehicle Registration number, vehicle identification number, license plate number and fleet number, if applicable, of said vehicle.
(h) 
Schedule of fares, on the reverse side, as set forth hereinunder.
C. 
Vehicle decal.
(1) 
Issuance. Upon approval of an application, the Town Clerk shall issue for each vehicle a decal in a color indicating and distinguishing the term of its validity.
(2) 
Posting. Licensees, at all times, and permittees, while in possession of a vehicle, are responsible for maintaining said decal conspicuously posted and securely fastened on said vehicle, in a location determined by the Town Clerk, in a clear and readable manner.
(3) 
Contents. The decal shall set forth such information as deemed proper and necessary by the Town Clerk, in order to demonstrate its source of issuance and current validity quickly and easily to all enforcement officials.
D. 
Vehicle operator's permit.
(1) 
Issuance. Upon approval of an application, the Town Clerk shall issue to the vehicle operator a permit bearing the title: "Operator Permit: Towing For Hire."
(2) 
Availability. Permittees are responsible for maintaining and carrying said permit on them at all times while engaged in towing for hire.
(3) 
Contents. The permit shall set forth the following information:
(a) 
Name of the permit holder.
(b) 
A photograph of the permit holder.
(c) 
Signature and seal of the Town Clerk imprinted thereon.
(d) 
Statement certifying that the operator to which such permit is issued is authorized to operate a tow truck for the purpose of towing vehicles for hire.
(e) 
Dates of issuance and expiration of such permit and the number thereof.
A. 
Filing. Licensees shall file with the Town Clerk a copy of the current, valid Schedule of Rates to be charged for the towing of vehicles, which shall be placed on the reverse side of all vehicle certificates of said licensee.
B. 
Posting. Licensees, at all times, and permittees, while in possession of a vehicle, are responsible for maintaining said schedule posted in the manner set forth hereinabove, related to vehicle certificates. Licensees are further responsible for maintaining said schedule conspicuously posted and securely fastened at their terminals in a clear and readable manner at all times.
C. 
Contents. The schedule shall set forth the following information:
(1) 
Title: "Schedule of Rates: Towing For Hire."
(2) 
Rates to be charged, legibly printed on white cardboard or similar type materials, not less than six (6) inches by eight (8) inches in size.
D. 
Restrictions. No fee shall be charged in excess of the rates fixed on the Schedule of Rates, unless the cause for any such additional fee is explained to the person requesting the tow and set forth in writing on a receipt, and no fee shall be charged whatsoever if said schedule is not posted as prescribed herein.
A. 
Issuance. Upon approval of an application for a certificate of operation, the Town Clerk shall issue a placard for each vehicle bearing the title: "Customer Regulations, Rights and Complaints."
B. 
Posting. Licensees are responsible for maintaining said placard conspicuously posted and securely fastened at their terminal, in a clear and readable manner, at all times.
C. 
Contents. The placard shall set forth the activities by customers that are prohibited, their rights and where to file complaints, as prescribed by this chapter.
A. 
Dispatch logs. Licensees are responsible for maintenance and immediate update of a written log at all times, recording all engagements of all vehicles used in said business, the time and place each customer engaged each vehicle, the time and place each customer terminated the engagement of each vehicle and the fees charged for each engagement.
B. 
Trip logs. Licensees, at all times, and permittees, while in possession of a vehicle, are responsible for maintenance and immediate update of a written log for each vehicle used in said business, recording all trips for and by said vehicle, all engagements of said vehicle, the time and place each customer engaged said vehicle, the time and place each customer terminated the engagement of said vehicle and the fees charged for each engagement.
C. 
Inspections. Such records shall be kept for six (6) years from the date of the transactions and shall be available for inspection by the Town, upon request, at all times during said period.
[Amended 1-14-2015 by L.L. No. 6-2015]
A. 
Public properties. Licensees or permittees involved in towing for hire shall not have exclusive rights to any location on any street, road or highway, or on any public property, unless so prescribed by a contract or franchise agreement with the public entity having jurisdiction over said property.
B. 
State highways. Licensees or permittees involved in towing for hire shall not occupy any part of a state highway for the purpose of soliciting customers, unless so prescribed by a contract or franchise agreement with the State of New York or any duly authorized department, agency or political subdivision of the state.
A. 
Business owners.
(1) 
Filing. Licensees shall, prior to issuance of their license and/or certificate of operation, file with the Town Clerk proof of insurance for the business and each vehicle used therein, in the form of memoranda, covering the period of the term of said license.
(2) 
Contents. The memoranda shall set forth the following information:
(a) 
Insurance Requirements:
[Amended 12-4-2007 by L.L. No. 46-2007]
Proof of insurance covering the licensee and each vehicle as follows:
General Liability insurance in the amount of One Million ($1,000,000) Dollars per person per accident, for personal injury and property damage.
Automobile Liability insurance in the amount of One Million ($1,000,000) Dollars per person per accident, for personal injury and property damage.
(b) 
Garage keeper’s liability. Proof of insurance covering the licensee against garage keeper’s legal liability in the minimum amount of One Hundred Twenty Thousand ($120,000) Dollars, per incident, per facility, with no aggregate and no sub-limit per vehicle, for property damage to vehicles being towed by or in the care, custody and control of the licensee.
[Amended 12-4-2007 by L.L. No. 46-2007]
(c) 
Notice of cancellation. Assurance that said insurance company shall provide the Town of Huntington with thirty (30) days' prior written notice of cancellation of any policy.
(d) 
Agent information. Name, local address and telephone number of the agent of the licensee's insurance company, which company must be duly recognized by the New York State Insurance Department and licensed to do business within the State of New York.
(3) 
Cancellation. If said insurance is suspended or cancelled for any reason whatsoever, the business license and all certificates of operation for each vehicle shall be suspended until such time as a reinstatement of said policy or memorandum of an acceptable, current and valid policy is on file with the Town Clerk.
B. 
Vehicle operators. Permittees, while in possession of a vehicle, are responsible for having a valid, current insurance card for said vehicle, issued to the licensee and/or vehicle owner, with them at all times.
A. 
Disapproval, suspension or revocation. Holders of licenses, certificates and/or permits, issued pursuant to this chapter, shall surrender same to the Town Clerk immediately upon demand after the disapproval, suspension or revocation thereof.
B. 
Sales. Holders of licenses and/or certificates, issued pursuant to this chapter, shall surrender same to the Town Clerk immediately upon, and in no case later than seven (7) days from, the sale or other disposition of a business, nor twenty-four (24) hours from the sale or other disposition of any vehicle.
C. 
State actions. Holders of licenses, certificates and/or permits, issued pursuant to this chapter, shall surrender same to the Town Clerk immediately upon, and in no case later than seven (7) days from, suspension or revocation by the State of New York of any relevant license, permit or registration.