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(a) The prohibitions and requirements of this article shall also apply to all accidents and incidents occurring on a public roadway, regardless of whether or not the final resting place of a vehicle is upon a public roadway immediately after the accident or incident.
(b) This section shall be construed to include those accidents or incidents in which a vehicle, immediately before becoming wrecked or disabled, was:
(1) Driven off a public roadway intentionally or unintentionally, because of some real or perceived emergency;
(2) Driven off a public roadway maliciously, or with an intent to commit suicide; or
(3) Driven, pushed or forced off a public roadway and the vehicle owner or the driver of the vehicle is not present.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)
The police chief shall administer and enforce this article. The city may enter into a contract to delegate authority to administer all or part of this article to a third-party vendor, other than: 1) any authority related to § 34-195 or 2) the right to choose which towing companies will perform towing services for the city. Selection of a vendor shall be done in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. If the city enters into such a contract, the contract shall specify the authority and responsibilities of the third-party vendor or towing companies. Any responsibilities outlined in this article that are not delegated to the third-party vendor or the towing companies through the contract are retained by the police chief.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)
If a vehicle has been removed and placed in a vehicle storage facility without the consent of the vehicle owner or operator, the vehicle owner or operator may request a hearing pursuant to Tex. Occupations Code Chapter 2308, to determine whether probable cause existed for the removal and storage of the vehicle. All notices must be served on the City of Fort Worth Police Department, Care of the Fort Worth City Secretary, 200 Texas Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)
Division 2 shall apply to all towing companies or any person or entity engaged in the tow truck business that performs nonconsent tows within the City of Fort Worth, including any towing company, or any person or entity that performs law enforcement purpose tows for the city.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)
(a) This section applies only to towing companies that perform nonconsent tows in the City of Fort Worth.
(b) No towing company shall operate a tow truck used for nonconsent tows within the city limits without first registering with the city. The registration shall expire on September 30 of each year. The registration fee shall be $50 per year.
(c) Each registration shall be made in person at the office of the police chief or at such other location that may be designated on a form to be provided by the police department. Such registration shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the towing company, the number and types of tow trucks to be operated, the true owner of the towing company concerned, and a list of property locations within the city that the towing company is authorized by a property owner or agent to perform nonconsent tows.
(d) The police chief shall inspect all tow trucks to ensure compliance with all applicable state laws, rules and regulations. The inspection fee for each tow truck is $30. No inspection certificate to operate a tow truck within the city shall be issued to a towing company until every tow truck proposed to be used by that towing company complies with at least the minimum requirements set by applicable state laws, rules and regulations.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)
Nonconsent towed vehicles must be taken to a vehicle storage facility that is:
(a) Within one mile of the corporate limits of the City of Fort Worth; and
(b) No more than 20 miles from the location from which the vehicle was removed.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018; Ord. 25674-08-2022, § 2, passed 8-23-2022, eff. 9-1-2022)
(a) Each towing company performing nonconsent tows of vehicles within the city, will provide a weekly written report to the police department of all vehicles towed as a nonconsent tow from any public roadway or parking facility, during the previous one-week period, which shall include the following information:
(1) Make, model and color of the vehicle towed;
(2) License number and/or V.I.N. of the vehicle;
(3) Location of the origin of the pull;
(4) Location of the destination of the pull;
(5) The date and time the pull was made; and
(6) The name, address and phone number of the party requesting the service.
(b) In addition to providing a weekly written report, each towing company towing vehicles within the city will provide the same information telephonically or electronically to the police department immediately upon leaving the scene of any nonconsent tow. Under no circumstances shall notification exceed 45 minutes from the time the tow truck leaves the scene of any nonconsent tow originating within the city.
(c) Written reports shall be provided electronically in the manner designated by the police chief. Telephonic notification shall be provided to the telephone number designated by the police chief. Information on where and how to submit electronically or telephonically shall be published on the police department's website and shall be provided to each towing company at the time the towing company completes its annual registration.
(Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)
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