§ 410-11. General towing regulations., Chapter 410. Vehicle Impoundment, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, North Wildwood

Prior to towing a motor vehicle, the driver of the licensed tow truck shall inspect the vehicle to be towed and make written record of any vehicle defects observed on prenumbered, approved (by the Chief of Police) forms.

Every towing service operator shall keep a log of all vehicles towed by his trucks. The log shall be in a bound book and shall contain, with respect to each tow, the date, time, location from where the vehicle was towed, the license plate number and state of the vehicle, the make and model and the notes of any defects noticed in inspecting the vehicle.

A record of each tow shall be filed with the City of North Wildwood Police Department, on a form approved by the Police Department, within 30 minutes of the completion of the tow.

Each tow truck shall be equipped with the following: amber emergency flashing lights (strobe or revolving), shovel and broom for cleaning debris and all necessary tools and implements for properly and safely towing vehicles.

Each tow operator shall store each towed vehicle in an area which provides appropriate security and protection for the towed vehicle.

(1)

The maximum storage charges which shall be deemed in compliance with the terms of this subsection shall be as follows:

(a)

A charge of $5 per 24 hours for any passenger motor vehicle.

(b)

A charge of $10 per 24 hours for any passenger motor vehicle which was involved in an accident and is incapable of operation.

(c)

A charge of $5 per 24 hours for all other motor vehicles, except that the charge for a motor vehicle in excess of 20 feet in length but less than 40 feet in length shall be $10, and any vehicle in excess of 40 feet shall be $15, per 24 hours.

(2)

Said storage charges shall begin to accrue 12 hours after the tow.

Each tow operator shall provide a form to release a vehicle to its owners or its representative upon demand and receipt of payment for services.

Each tow operator shall deposit towed vehicles only at a facility providing twenty-four-hour-a-day service for the owners to recover their vehicles.

All vehicles towed under the provisions of this chapter must be stored in the City of North Wildwood, the City of Wildwood, the Borough of Wildwood Crest or the Borough of West Wildwood, and, if stored in the City of Wildwood, Borough of Wildwood Crest or Borough of West Wildwood, the tow operator shall provide transportation to owners of vehicles which have been towed within 30 minutes of their request. Nothing herein shall prohibit a vehicle from being towed to any location requested by the owner of the vehicle.

[Amended 6-21-1988 by Ord. No. 1009]

Each vehicle used to tow shall be identified on the driver and passenger side front doors of the vehicle with the following information in at least three-inch letters: the name of the operator, the City of business and the phone number.

No tow operator shall use a tow vehicle or other means to obstruct vehicles from leaving an area, except for the one vehicle he may be preparing to tow, for which a call out or hookup fee may be charged if the owner arrives before the vehicle is towed.

No tow operator shall pay a commission to any person who requests towing service.

A copy of the city's towing regulations shall be posted and available to the public at the tow operator's place of business and at any separate storage area operated by the licensee.

The tow operator shall notify the City Police Department within 24 hours if a vehicle has not been claimed within 24 hours of the time it was towed.

No tow operator may remove any vehicle from private property unless he ensures that the property from which he tows has the proper signs posted in accordance with the City regulations authorizing towing from that property.