Inglewood Municipal Code § 8-91 Tow Car Requirements

All towing equipment used by City referral towing service permit holders shall comply with the following requirements:

(1) All applicable sections of tow car requirements listed in the California Vehicle Code.

(2) Adequate equipment to handle any passenger vehicle, motorcycles and/or large and small trucks, trailers, tractors and other similar heavy equipment. Standard tow truck or trucks shall be used, not converted pickup trucks.

(3) Cable winch of sufficient size and capacity to retrieve vehicles, which have gone over embankments or off traveled portions of roadways into inundated areas or other inaccessible locations.

(4) Tow car operators must be proficient in unlocking vehicles on police order when required.

(5) Tow trucks shall be radio-equipped with equipment approved by the Police Department.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

Response time for referral services shall be within fifteen minutes of such requests. The City Council may suspend or revoke a permit issued pursuant to these provisions for failure to comply with this Section.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

Referral towing service operators granted permits under this Chapter shall conform to the following storage requirements:

(1) Storage lots must be properly fenced with a suitable material, six feet in height; lots must be equipped so as to provide adequate lighting during the hours of darkness and shall be provided with ample facilities for locking vehicles and providing security. The storage lot need not be on the same property as the offices of the towing services operator but said lot must be in the immediate vicinity of the permit holder's main office and within the City limits.

(2) Vehicles requiring special handling for investigation, that is, fingerprinting, photographing, searching, etc., must be under a roof in a building capable of being secured and shall not be moved or touched under storage therein without the written consent of the Police Department; the storage garage must be within the City limits.

(3) The official towing service and garage will be available on a twenty-four-hour basis and an attendant shall be available within fifteen minutes to answer requests for service at the official towing service garage.

(4) Whenever the term "day" is mentioned in these requirements, it is to be interpreted as a twenty-four-hour period from the time of impoundment.

(5) All police tows shall be considered as a police impound and shall be towed to a storage lot within the City limits or any other location designated by the Police Department. All other tows shall be agreed upon between the owner of the vehicle and the contractor.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

Each referral towing service operator granted a permit under the provisions of this Chapter shall comply with the following insurance requirements:

Each referral towing company shall furnish the City a policy or certificate of liability insurance in which the City is named insured or is named as an additional insured with the contractor. The insurance hereunder is primary and shall be noncontributory to any other insurance available. The policy shall insure the City, its officers and employees while acting within the scope of their duties against all claims arising out of or in connection with the permit. Each towing company shall maintain these policies and shall maintain the following insurance in amounts not less than those specified below:

1. Workers' compensation and employer's liability in accordance with applicable law.

2. Comprehensive General Liability. Bodily injury and property damage, combined single limits of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence, one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) annual aggregate.

3. Comprehensive Automobile Liability.

(a) Bodily injury liability coverage of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for each person in one accident, and one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) for injuries sustained by two or more persons in any one accident;

(b) Property damage liability of one million ($1,000,000.00) for each accident;

(c) Or, in lieu of the above, one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) combined single limits per occurrence, one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) annual aggregate.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

Referral tow service and storage garage operators shall maintain records of all impounded and stored vehicles ordered by the Police Department at their place of business. Such records shall be available to police officers and the Finance Director or his or her authorized representatives only. These records must be retained for at least two years. The records to be maintained shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. CHP Form 180, Report of Impounded Vehicles;

2. CHP Form 126, Report of Notification of Impound;

3. City of Inglewood Police Department Vehicle Release Orders;

4. Copies of registered letter to vehicle owner;

5. Inventory list of personal property in impound and stored vehicles; and

6. Charge sheets listing tow charges and storage fees of each individual vehicle and when possible containing the owner's release signature.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00; Ord. 03-19 10-14-03; Ord. 07-08 4-25-07)

The records listed in Section 8-91.4 shall be maintained in jacket files by date of impound or storage and readily available for the police officer in charge of the investigation or responsible members of the California Highway Patrol.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

When a tow truck has been dispatched to the scene of an accident or to a vehicle that has been impounded by the Police Department, the tow truck operators shall cooperate with the police officer in removing hazards and illegally parked vehicles off the street. It shall be the duty of the police officer on duty to direct the necessary action with which the tow truck operator shall comply.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

The referral tow service and storage garage operators shall keep a record log showing the time and date that they receive each and every call from the Inglewood Police Department.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

The referral tow service and storage garage operators and their employees shall comply with the applicable portions of the City of Inglewood Police Impound Regulations.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

Vehicles, which are towed pursuant to the Article, shall be released in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Impounded Vehicles. Any vehicle or part which the Inglewood Police Department has ordered held by the operator because of involvement in any crime or infraction or the true owner of said vehicle cannot be ascertained, shall be deemed an impounded vehicle and shall not be released to any person without the prior written approval of the Police Department.

2. Stored Vehicles. Any vehicle or part which is kept for safekeeping and is not otherwise an impounded vehicle or part as defined above shall be deemed a stored vehicle and may be released at the discretion of the operator to any person presenting property identification and evidence of ownership and upon payment of all required charges. Operator shall hold the City of Inglewood and its Police Department harmless from any claims arising from the alleged improper release of vehicles or parts.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

The right of any vehicle owner involved in a traffic collision to call for traffic service of his own choosing shall not be infringed upon so long as the removal of his vehicle is made without undue delay. In those cases where the owner of a damaged vehicle chooses to use the services of the City's referral tow service and storage garage, such services and charges related thereto shall be responsibility of the contractor and owner of the vehicle.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

The tow service and storage garage operator, upon signing CHP Form No. 180, Report of Impounded Vehicle, assumes full responsibility for the vehicle and its contents on each impound.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

Except as otherwise provided, a tow service and storage garage operator shall not display any signs or advertising materials which indicate that his is an official towing service or police garage of the City without having received prior written permission of the Administrative Officer and Police Chief.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)

The City reserves the right to inspect facilities, equipment, and premises of the permittees hereunder at any time during the life of his permit in order to ensure that all terms and conditions of this Chapter are being satisfactorily met and complied with.

(Ord. 00-16 9-26-00)