Azusa Municipal Code Art. XI Police Garage Storage and Tow Service

The city council does find, determine and declare that entering into agreements with private tow operators for official police garage storage and tow service is necessary to the public health, safety and welfare for, among other reasons, the following:

(1) Official police garage storage and tow service is necessary for the effective enforcement of parking laws;

(2) Official police garage storage and tow service is necessary for the prompt and effective removal of vehicles involved in collisions;

(3) Official police garage storage and tow service is necessary to provide safeguards for the protection of vehicles stored or impounded;

(4) The police department requires prompt and effective tow services;

(5) The city has an interest and a need to closely supervise the activities of the official police garage storage and tow service providers;

(6) Adequate enforcement and implementation of this Code in part depends on the establishment of an official police garage storage and tow service;

(7) Private tow service operators are desirous of entering into agreements to provide official police garage storage and tow services; and

(8) Operators of private tow services willingly agree to be bound by agreements entered into for the official police garage storage and tow service.

(Code 1971, § 11.70.010)

The city shall enter into agreements with private tow service operators for official police garage storage and tow service. The agreements shall establish the specifications and duties of the parties to the agreement. The agreement between the city and the private tow service operator shall, at a minimum:

(1) Establish minimum facility requirements;

(2) Establish minimum equipment requirements;

(3) Establish standards and criteria for the handling and protection of vehicles in the care and custody of the official police garage storage and tow service;

(4) Establish the conditions of release or disposal of vehicles;

(5) Establish maximum allowable rates and charges;

(6) Describe and require the keeping, maintaining and disclosure of records and reports by the official police garage storage and tow service;

(7) Establish minimum insurance coverage requirements; and

(8) Establish the term of the contract, including its suspension, termination or abandonment.

(Code 1971, § 11.70.020)

Under this article, the chief of police shall periodically review the level of fees and charges permitted in the agreements to determine their sufficiency. As part of that review, the chief of police may but is not required to inspect the level of fees and charges permitted by other similarly situated cities or by the county. The level of fees and charges permitted under an agreement with the city shall be established by resolution. An official police garage storage and tow service operator may petition the chief of police for a rate increase.

(Code 1971, § 11.70.030)