Accident. Any collision between two or more vehicles or a vehicle and another object, which renders a motor vehicle unsafe to be driven upon the streets.
Chief of Police. The Chief of Police for the City of Longview, or the person designated by him to act in his stead for the purposes of the article.
City. The City of Longview, Texas.
Disabled. The status of any vehicle which had been rendered unsafe to be driven upon the streets as the result of some occurrence other than a wreck, including, but not limited to, mechanical failures or breakdowns, fire, the elements, or vandalism, so as to reasonably necessitate that such vehicle be removed by a wrecker or tow truck.
Heavy duty tow truck. A motor vehicle equipped with a mechanical device used to tow, winch, or otherwise move another vehicle and which is registered as a tow truck under the provisions of Chapter 643 of the Texas Transportation Code, as amended, and said vehicle has a manufacturer’s gross vehicle rating of not less than 48,000 pounds.
Light duty tow truck. A motor vehicle equipped with a mechanical device used to tow, winch, or otherwise move another vehicle and which is registered as a tow truck under the provisions of the Texas Transportation Code and said vehicle has a manufacturer’s gross vehicle rating of not less than 10,000 pounds and not more than 47,999 pounds, has a single rear axle with a minimum of four functional rear tires.
Motor vehicle. Any motor driven or propelled vehicle, including motorcycles, required to be registered under the laws of the State of Texas.
Nonconsensual tow. The towing of a disabled vehicle, or vehicle that has been involved in an accident, whose owner or operator is unable, fails, or refuses to designate a wrecker service to remove the vehicle.
Owner. Any person who holds the legal title to a motor vehicle, or has the legal right of possession thereof. This does not include any person who has gained possession of a motor vehicle only as a result of wrecker services performed.
Permit. Authorization granted by the city under the provisions of this article to tow wrecked or disabled vehicles from the public streets.
Permit holder. Any person possessing a current, valid permit to tow wrecked or disabled vehicles from the public streets.
Person. An individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or an association.
Police pull. The designation of the occasion when the public safety communications department or the Police Department has called a wrecker company from the wrecker rotation list to either remove a vehicle that has been involved in an accident, or disabled vehicle or to remove a vehicle in a safe driving condition, but the owner is not present, refuses, or is unable or is not permitted to drive or to make authorizations.
Rotation. The designation of the occasion when the owner of a vehicle that has been involved in an accident, or disabled vehicle fails to designate a specific repair place or wrecker operator to remove the owner’s vehicle and the owner has authorized the police department to call a wrecker from the wrecker rotation list.
Storage facility. The site to which a permit holder tows and stores motor vehicles which meets the requirements of state and federal statutory law.
Street. Any street, alley, avenue, lane, public place, square or highway within the corporate limits of the city.
Tow truck. A motor vehicle equipped with a mechanical device used to tow, winch, or otherwise move another vehicle and which is registered as a tow truck under the provisions of Texas Transportation Code.
Vehicle. Every device in, or upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, but not including devices moved only by human power, or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks.
Wrecker. Any motor vehicle used for the purpose of towing or removing vehicles.
Wrecker business. The business of towing vehicles not belonging to the towing wrecker company on a public street within the incorporated limits of the City of Longview for compensation, or with the expectation of compensation, including, but not limited to, compensation for towing, storage and repair.
Wrecker company. Any person engaged in the wrecker business.
Wrecker rotation list. A list prepared in accordance with the provisions of this article, of wrecker companies which have permits and have requested and qualified to appear thereon. A separate list shall be maintained for light duty wreckers and heavy duty wreckers.
(Ord. No. 2925, § 2, 5-25-00; Ord. No. 3294, § 2, 2-12-04)