(a) A person commits an offense if he operates a wrecker engaged in vehicle tow service in the city without a valid wrecker driver’s permit issued to the person under this article.
(b) A licensee commits an offense if he employs or otherwise allows a person to operate for compensation a wrecker owned, controlled, or operated by the licensee unless the person has a valid wrecker driver’s permit issued under this article. (Ord. Nos. 21435; 24175)
(a) To qualify for a wrecker driver’s permit, an applicant must:
(1) be at least 19 years of age;
(2) be currently authorized to work full- time in the United States;
(3) hold a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Texas;
(4) be able to communicate in the English language;
(5) not be afflicted with a physical or mental disease or disability that is likely to prevent the applicant from exercising ordinary and reasonable control over a motor vehicle or that is likely to otherwise endanger the public health or safety, as determined by a medical doctor licensed to practice medicine in the United States;
(6) not have been convicted of more than four moving traffic violations arising out of separate transactions, nor involved in more than two motor vehicle accidents in which it could be reasonably determined that the applicant was at fault, within any 12 month period during the preceding 36 months;
(7) not have been convicted of a crime:
(A) involving:
(i) criminal homicide as described in Chapter 19 of the Texas Penal Code;
(ii) kidnapping as described in Chapter 20 of the Texas Penal Code;
(iii) a sexual offense as described in Chapter 21 of the Texas Penal Code;
(iv) an assaultive offense as described in Chapter 22 of the Texas Penal Code;
(v) robbery as described in Chapter 29 of the Texas Penal Code;
(vi) burglary as described in Chapter 30 of the Texas Penal Code, but only if the offense was committed against a person with whom the applicant came in contact while engaged in vehicle tow service;
(vii) theft as described in Chapter 31 of the Texas Penal Code, but only if the offense was committed against a person with whom the applicant came in contact while engaged in vehicle tow service;
(viii) fraud as described in Chapter 32 of the Texas Penal Code, but only if the offense was committed against a person with whom the applicant came in contact while engaged in vehicle tow service;
(ix) tampering with a governmental record as described in Chapter 37 of the Texas Penal Code, but only if the offense was committed against a person with whom the applicant came in contact while engaged in vehicle tow service;
(x) public indecency (prostitution or obscenity) as described in Chapter 43 of the Texas Penal Code;
(xi) the transfer, carrying, or possession of a weapon in violation of Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code, or of any comparable state or federal law, but only if the violation is punishable as a felony under the applicable law;
(xii) a violation of the Dangerous Drugs Act (Article 4476-14, Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes), or of any comparable state or federal law, that is punishable as a felony under the applicable law;
(xiii) a violation of the Controlled Substances Act (Article 4476-15, Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes), or of any comparable state or federal law, that is punishable as a felony under the applicable law; or
(xiv) criminal attempt to commit any of the offenses listed in Subdivision (7)(A)(i) through (xiii) of this subsection;
(B) for which:
(i) less than two years have elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement imposed for the conviction, whichever is the later date, if the applicant was convicted of a misdemeanor offense;
(ii) less than five years have elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement for the conviction, whichever is the later date, if the applicant was convicted of a felony offense; or
(iii) less than five years have elapsed since the date of the last conviction or the date of release from confinement for the last conviction, whichever is the later date, if, within any 24-month period, the applicant has two or more convictions of any misdemeanor offense or combination of misdemeanor offenses;
(8) not have been convicted of, or discharged by probation or deferred adjudication for, driving while intoxicated:
(A) within the preceding 12 months; or
(B) more than one time within the preceding five years;
(9) not be addicted to the use of alcohol or narcotics;
(10) be subject to no outstanding warrants of arrest;
(11) be sanitary and well-groomed in dress and person;
(12) be employed by the licensee; and
(13) have successfully completed within the preceding 12 months a defensive driving course approved by the Texas Education Agency and be able to present proof of completion.
(b) An applicant who has been convicted of an offense listed in Subsection (a)(7) or (8), for which the required time period has elapsed since the date of conviction or the date of release from confinement imposed for the conviction, may qualify for a wrecker driver’s permit only if the director determines that the applicant is presently fit to engage in the occupation of a wrecker driver. In determining present fitness under this section, the director shall consider the following:
(1) the extent and nature of the applicant’s past criminal activity;
(2) the age of the applicant at the time of the commission of the crime;
(3) the amount of time that has elapsed since the applicant’s last criminal activity;
(4) the conduct and work activity of the applicant prior to and following the criminal activity;
(5) evidence of the applicant’s rehabilitation or rehabilitative effort while incarcerated or following release; and
(6) other evidence of the applicant’s present fitness, including letters of recommendation from prosecution, law enforcement, and correctional officers who prosecuted, arrested, or had custodial responsibility for the applicant; the sheriff and chief of police in the community where the applicant resides; and any other persons in contact with the applicant.
(c) It is the responsibility of the applicant, to the extent possible, to secure and provide to the director the evidence required to determine present fitness under Subsection (b) of this section and under Section 48A-19 of this article. (Ord. Nos. 21435; 24175)
To obtain a wrecker driver's permit, or renewal of a wrecker driver's permit, a person must file with the director a completed written application on a form provided for the purpose and a nonrefundable application fee of $32. The director shall require each application to state such information as the director reasonably considers necessary to determine whether an applicant is qualified. (Ord. Nos. 21435; 24175; 27695; 30215)
(a) For the purpose of determining qualification under Section 48A-13(a)(5), the director may require an applicant to submit to a physical examination conducted by a licensed physician, at applicant’s expense, and to furnish to the director a signed statement from the physician certifying that the physician has examined the applicant and that in the physician’s professional opinion the applicant is qualified under Section 48A-13(a)(5).
(b) Upon request of the director, the police department shall investigate each applicant and furnish the director a report concerning the applicant’s qualification under Section 48A-13. The municipal court shall furnish the director a copy of the applicant’s motor vehicle driving record and a list of any warrants of arrest for the applicant which might be outstanding.
(c) The director may conduct such other investigation as the director considers necessary to determine whether an applicant for a wrecker driver’s permit is qualified.
(d) The director shall provide the applicant, upon written request, a copy of all materials contained in the applicant’s file to the extent allowed under the Public Information Act (Chapter 552, Texas Government Code), as amended. (Ord. Nos. 21435; 24175)
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