The following rules and regulations shall be observed by the police tow operators:
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, the police tow operator shall not release any vehicle that was impounded as evidence, or for a 30-day hold pursuant to Section 14602.6(a) of the Vehicle Code, without written permission of the Fullerton Police Department.
B. If a vehicle is released within 24 hours from the time the vehicle is brought into the storage facility, regardless of the calendar date, the storage charge shall be for only one day.
C. If a request to release a vehicle is made and the appropriate fees are tendered and documentation establishing that the person requesting release is entitled to possession of the vehicle, or is the owner’s insurance representative, is presented within the initial 24 hours of storage, and the storage facility fails to comply with the request to release the vehicle or is not open for business during normal business hours, then only one day’s storage charge may be required to be paid. A business day is any day in which the police tow operator is open for business to the public for at least eight hours. If a request is made more than 24 hours after the vehicle is placed in storage, charges may be imposed on a full calendar day basis for each day, or part thereof, that the vehicle is in storage.
D. A vehicle shall not be removed to a location other than that listed as the business address of such police tow operator without first receiving authorization to do so by the Police Department;
E. A police tow operator shall not conspire with any person to defraud any owner of any vehicle, or any insurance company, or any person financially interested in the cost of the towing or storage of any vehicle, by making false or deceptive statements relating to the towing or storage of any vehicle;
F. A police tow operator shall not remove a vehicle involved in a collision prior to the arrival of the Police Department in the event of any of the following:
1. A person, as a result of such collision, suffered death or injury;
2. The driver of an involved vehicle, or a party to such collision, was under the influence of a drug or intoxicant of any nature; or
3. There is evidence that such vehicle was involved in a hit and run collision.
(Ord. 3282 § 1(part), 2020)