§ 26-17.4. Same—Removal and storage of towed vehicles.

(a)

No tow truck service or operator shall charge a basic fee in excess of that set forth in this section. The towing charge shall not exceed one-hundred twenty dollars ($120.00) for light vehicles weighing up to ten thousand (10,000) pounds gross vehicle weight. The towing charge shall not exceed one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00) for towing any mid-size vehicle having a gross vehicle weight greater than ten thousand (10,000) pounds and not more than eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds gross vehicle weight; and the towing charge shall not exceed three hundred seventy-five dollars ($375.00) for towing any vehicle having a gross vehicle weight above eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds. Tractor-trailer combinations may be towed separately. If towed separately, a separate charge may be applied to each. In addition, charges may be recovered for the notifications required by state law; however, such charges shall not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75.00), or be initiated before the fourth consecutive day of storage.

(b)

There shall be no storage charge if the vehicle is reclaimed within the first twenty-four-hour period after the tow. Storage charges shall be assessed at a rate not to exceed fifty-five dollars ($55.00) per storage day for trucks having a gross vehicle weight greater than eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds; the storage rate shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30.00) per storage day for all other vehicles. Each twenty-four-hour period shall constitute one (1) storage day.

(c)

Each and every towing firm that tows motor vehicles from private property at a time other than the normal operating hours of the towing firm shall: (1) have an employee or agent at the telephone number provided in accordance with the first sign alternative in section 26-17.2 and/or at the storage facility so as to facilitate the return of said motor vehicle to the patron within one (1) hour of notification; or (2) have an employee or agent at the telephone number provided to the police department in accordance with section 26-17.5 so as to facilitate the return of said motor vehicle to the patron within one (1) hour of notification. In addition, each towing firm shall have adequate, accessible on site parking and hook-up space available at all times for use by any owner, custodian or other person who arrives to retrieve a vehicle.

(d)

A monetary, itemized receipt for each and every tow must be given to those persons whose vehicles have been towed by the towing service upon release of the vehicle. The information on the receipt must be clearly legible and include the time, date and place of the tow and the name of the towing service, with mailing address. The receipt must also list the amount of money paid for the release of the vehicle, any charges incurred in the tow and the reason for the charges. A copy of the receipt must be retained by the towing service. No charge shall be made for the use of tow dollies or gojacks. No charges other than those specifically authorized by this section shall be permitted.

(e)

If the owner or custodian of any vehicle not authorized to be parked on private property returns after a tow truck has arrived and is engaged in hooking up or attaching the subject vehicle to the tow vehicle, or is attached to the subject vehicle, he may reclaim the vehicle upon payment of a service fee not to exceed thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for light vehicles weighing up to ten thousand (10,000) pounds gross vehicle weight; eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for any mid-size vehicle having a gross vehicle weight greater than ten thousand (10,000) pounds and not more than eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds gross vehicle weight; and one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for any vehicle having a gross vehicle weight above eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds. No fee in excess of the applicable amount listed above shall be charged where the vehicle has not been removed from the lot or private property upon which it was unlawfully parked.

If the owner or custodian of any vehicle not authorized to be parked on private property returns after a tow truck has arrived, but before the vehicle has been attached, hooked up or towed, he may reclaim the vehicle without payment of a service fee.

(Ord. No. 4017-90; Ord. No. 4895-96; Ord. No. 5771-02; Ord. No. 5998-04; Ord. No. 6114-05, § 1; Ord. No. 7145-15; Ord. No. 7611-20, § 1)

(Ord. No. 4017-90; Ord. No. 4895-96; Ord. No. 5771-02; Ord. No. 5998-04; Ord. No. 6114-05, § 1; Ord. No. 7145-15; Ord. No. 7611-20, § 1)