Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
New York City Overview
The New York City Charter
The New York City Administrative Code
NEW YORK CITY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
Title 1: General Provisions
Title 2: City of New York
Title 3: Elected officials
Title 4: Property of the City
Title 5: Budget; Capital Projects
Title 6: Contracts, Purchases and Franchises
Title 7: Legal Affairs
Title 8: Civil Rights
Title 9: Criminal Justice
Title 10: Public Safety
Title 11: Taxation and Finance
Title 12: Personnel and Labor
Title 13: Retirement and Pensions
Title 14: Police
Title 15: Fire Prevention and Control
Title 16: Sanitation
Title 16-A: [Commercial Waste Removal]
Title 16-B: Commercial Waste Zones
Title 17: Health
Title 18: Parks
Title 19: Transportation
Title 20: Consumer and Worker Protection
Chapter 1: License Enforcement
Chapter 2: Licenses
Subchapter 1: Tobacco Retail Dealers
Subchapter 2: [Repealed]
Subchapter 3: Amusement Devices, Arcades and Operators [Renumbered]
Subchapter 4: Billiard and Pocket Billiard Tables and Billiard and Pocket Billiard Rooms [Repealed]
Subchapter 5: [Repealed]
Subchapter 6: Sidewalk Cafes [Repealed]
Subchapter 7: Sidewalk Stands
Subchapter 8: Sightseeing Guides
Subchapter 9: Pedicabs
Subchapter 10: [Repealed]
Subchapter 11: Dealers in Second-Hand Articles
Subchapter 12: Pawnbrokers
Subchapter 13: Auctioneers
Subchapter 14: Industrial Laundries and Industrial Laundry Delivery
Subchapter 14.1: Laundries [Repealed]
Subchapter 15: Locksmiths
Subchapter 16: Sales [Repealed]
Subchapter 17: Garages and Parking Lots
Subchapter 18: [Repealed]
Subchapter 19: Bingo Licensing Law
Subchapter 20: Public Dance Halls, Cabarets and Catering Establishments [Repealed]
Subchapter 21: Sight-Seeing Buses, Horse-Drawn Cabs and Drivers
Subchapter 22: Home Improvement Business
Subchapter 23: Process Servers
Subchapter 24: Electronic or Home Appliance Service Dealers
Subchapter 25: Products for the Disabled; Sale, Rental, Repair and Servicing
Subchapter 26: Games of Chance
Subchapter 27: General Vendors
Subchapter 28: Storage Warehouses
Subchapter 29: Electronics Stores
Subchapter 30: Debt Collection Agencies
Subchapter 31: Towing Vehicles
§ 20-495 Definitions.
§ 20-496 License required.
§ 20-497 Application; fingerprinting; fee; term.
§ 20-498 Issuance of license.
§ 20-499 Bond.
§ 20-500 Insurance.
§ 20-501 Inspection of tow trucks.
§ 20-502 Premises.
§ 20-503 Issuance of license plate.
§ 20-504 Renewal, suspension and revocation of licenses.
§ 20-504.1 Mandatory suspension or revocation of license.
§ 20-505 Tow truck operator's license suspension or revocation; special circumstances.
§ 20-506 License revocation.
§ 20-507 Posting of information.
§ 20-508 Storage facilities.
§ 20-509 Rates.
§ 20-509.1 Rates for arterial tow permittees.
§ 20-510 Authorization to tow vehicles.
§ 20-511 Removal of vehicles obstructing traffic.
§ 20-512 Obligation to perform service.
§ 20-513 Specific request for services. [Repealed]
§ 20-514 Repairs.
§ 20-515 Prohibited acts.
§ 20-516 Records.
§ 20-517 Transferability.
§ 20-518 Removal of vehicles involved in an accident.
§ 20-518.1 Special accident response districts. [Expired]
§ 20-519 Removal of stolen, abandoned and evidence vehicles, vehicles blocking a private driveway and vehicles with certain alarm devices.
§ 20-520 Removal of disabled vehicles on highways.
§ 20-520.1 Acceptance of major credit cards as prerequisite to participation in city towing programs; violations.
§ 20-521 Interagency advisory council. [Repealed]
§ 20-522 Penalties.
§ 20-522.1 Violations for operating without a license; seizure; forfeiture.
§ 20-523 Enforcement.
§ 20-524 Applicability of subchapter.
§ 20-525 Regulations.
§ 20-526 Tow advisory board. [Repealed]
§ 20-527 Credit cards to be accepted in payment.
§ 20-528 Police precinct notification.
§ 20-529 Reporting on industry compliance.
Subchapter 32: Booting of Motor Vehicles
Subchapter 33: Car Washes
Subchapter 34: Ticket Sellers
Subchapter 35: Electronic Cigarette Retail Dealers
Subchapter 36: Third-Party Food Delivery Services
Subchapter 37: Construction Labor Providers
Subchapter 38: Hotels
Chapter 3: Weights and Measures
Chapter 4: Regulation of Commodities and Services
Chapter 5: Unfair Trade Practices
Chapter 6: No-Fault Insurance Medical Clinics
Chapter 7: Energy
Chapter 8: Earned Safe and Sick Time Act.
Chapter 9: Mass Transit Benefits
Chapter 10: Freelance Workers
Chapter 11: Information on Student Loan Forgiveness Programs
Chapter 12: Fair Work Practices
Chapter 13: Pay Deductions for Contributions to Not-for-Profit Organizations
Chapter 14: Savings Access New York - Board and Program for Private Sector Employee Retirement Savings
Chapter 15: Third-Party Service Workers
Title 20-A: [Shipboard Gambling]
Title 21: Social Services
Title 21-A: Education
Title 22: Economic Affairs
Title 23: Communications
Title 24: Environmental Protection and Utilities
Title 25: Land Use
Title 26: Housing and Buildings
Title 27: Construction and Maintenance
Title 28: New York City Construction Codes
Title 29: New York City Fire Code
Title 30: Emergency Management
Title 31: Department of Veterans' Services
Title 32: Labor and Employment
Title 33: Investigations
Title 34: Racial Equity
Appendix A: Unconsolidated Local Laws
The Rules of the City of New York
THE RULES OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Title 1: Department of Buildings
Title 2: Board of Standards and Appeals
Title 3: Fire Department
Title 6: Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
Title 9: Procurement Policy Board Rules
Title 12: Franchise and Concession Review Committee
Title 15: Department of Environmental Protection
Title 16: Department of Sanitation
Title 17: Business Integrity Commission
Title 19: Department of Finance
Title 20: Tax Appeals Tribunal
Title 21: Tax Commission
Title 22: Banking Commission
Title 24: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Title 25: Department of Mental Health and Retardation [Repealed]
Title 28: Housing Preservation and Development
Title 29: Loft Board
Title 30: Rent Guidelines Board
Title 31: Mayor's Office of Homelessness and Single Room Occupancy
Title 34: Department of Transportation
Title 35: Taxi and Limousine Commission
Title 38: Police Department
Title 38-A: Civilian Complaint Review Board
Title 39: Department of Correction
Title 40: Board of Correction
Title 41: Department of Juvenile Justice
Title 42: Department of Probation
Title 43: Mayor
Title 44: Comptroller
Title 45: Borough Presidents
Title 46: Law Department
Title 47: Commission on Human Rights
Title 48: Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH)
Title 49: Department of Records and Information Services
Title 50: Community Assistance Unit
Title 51: City Clerk
Title 52: Campaign Finance Board*
Title 53: Conflicts of Interest Board
Title 55: Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Title 56: Department of Parks and Recreation
Title 57: Art Commission
Title 58: Department of Cultural Affairs
Title 60: Civil Service Commission
Title 61: Office of Collective Bargaining
Title 62: City Planning
Title 63: Landmarks Preservation Commission
Title 66: Department of Small Business Services
Title 67: Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
Title 68: Human Resources Administration
Title 69: Department of Aging
Title 70: In Rem Foreclosure Release Board
Title 71: Voter Assistance Commission
Title 72: Office of Emergency Management
Title 73: Civic Engagement Commission
Title 74: Community Hiring
Loading...
§ 20-500 Insurance.
   a.   As a condition of the issuance of a license to engage in towing, each applicant shall furnish proof that every tow truck to be used by such applicant under such license is insured under a liability insurance policy as follows: with respect to each tow truck, not less than two hundred thousand dollars for personal injury or death of any one person resulting from any one accident; not less than five hundred thousand dollars for personal injury or death of two or more persons resulting from any one accident; and not less than fifty thousand dollars for injury to or destruction of property of one or more persons resulting from any one accident.
   b.   The licensee shall notify the commissioner of any modification, amendment, cancellation or substitution of any insurance policy required under subdivision a of this section within ten days of notice to the licensee of such modification, amendment, cancellation or substitution.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1987/028.
§ 20-501 Inspection of tow trucks.
   a.   No license to engage in towing shall be issued pursuant to this subchapter unless the commissioner determines that every tow truck to be used by the applicant under such license is fit for operation as a towing vehicle and is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of the vehicle and traffic law and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
   b.   The commissioner may require by regulation that every tow truck used by a licensee be inspected periodically by the department, and after finding such truck to be fit for operation, may issue a replaceable inspection sticker of such material, form, design and dimension to be affixed to such truck in such manner as he or she shall prescribe. The commissioner may be regulation impose a fee for any inspection in an amount not to exceed fifty dollars in order to defray the costs of conducting any such inspection.
   c.   Where a holder of a license to engage in towing acquires a tow truck subsequent to the date such license was issued intended for use under such license or intends to utilize a truck not previously identified in any application for a license to engage in towing, such licensee shall be prohibited from using such truck for towing until the licensee has furnished proof that such truck is insured as required by section 20-500, and that such truck has been inspected and approved for use by the department pursuant to this section and the commissioner has issued a license plate therefor pursuant to section 20-503 of this subchapter.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1987/028.
§ 20-502 Premises.
No license to engage in towing shall be issued or renewed to any applicant where the premises on or in which the licensed business is to be conducted are not in compliance with the zoning resolution and the building code of the city of New York and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1987/028.
§ 20-503 Issuance of license plate.
Upon approval of an application to engage in towing, the commissioner shall issue to the licensee a license plate for each tow truck to be used under such license. Such license plate shall be securely affixed to a conspicuous and indispensable part of such truck, and shall clearly set forth the license number assigned to the licensee. The license plate issued to the licensee may, in the discretion of the commissioner, be a plate of a permanent nature with a replaceable date tag attached thereto, indicating the expiration date of the plate. Such license and replaceable date tag shall be of such material, form, design and dimension as the commissioner shall prescribe. The commissioner, upon renewal of a license to engage in towing, may continue the use of the license plate for as many additional license terms as he or she may determine, in which event he or she shall issue and deliver to the licensee a replaceable date tag as evidence of renewal of license, which shall be attached or affixed in such manner as he or she may prescribe. The failure to affix or display such date tag in a manner prescribed by the commissioner shall constitute a violation of this section. In the event of the loss, mutilation or destruction of any license plate or date tag issued hereunder, the licensee may file such statement and proof of facts as the commissioner shall require, with a fee of twenty-five dollars per plate or date tag, at the department, and the department shall issue a duplicate or substitute license plate or date tag.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1987/028.
§ 20-504 Renewal, suspension and revocation of licenses.
After due notice and opportunity to be heard, the commissioner may refuse to renew any license required under this subchapter and may suspend or revoke any such license upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following conditions:
   a.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license, or the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable its officers, principals, directors, employees, or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation have been found by the commissioner to have violated any provisions of this subchapter or any rule promulgated thereunder; or
   b.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license, or the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable its officers, principals, directors, employees, or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation were found to have operated a tow truck in a grossly negligent manner or in a manner showing a reckless disregard for life or property. For purposes of this subdivision, a finding that any such person violated section eleven hundred ninety-two of the vehicle and traffic law in the course of the operation of a tow truck shall be deemed gross negligence; or
   c.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license, or the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable its officers, principals, directors or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation have made a material false statement or concealed a material fact in connection with the filing of any application pursuant to this subchapter or have engaged in fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the rendering of services; or
   d.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license, or the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable its officers, principals, directors or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation have not paid, within the time permitted by law, any fine, penalty or judgment duly imposed pursuant to the provisions of this subchapter or any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder or duly imposed in connection with or arising from the use or operation of a tow truck or the occupation of the premises on which the licensed business is conducted; or
   e.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license, or the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable any of its officers, principals, directors or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation has been convicted of a crime which, in the judgment of the commissioner, has a direct relationship to such person's fitness or ability to perform any of the activities for which a license is required under this subchapter; or has been convicted of any other crime which, in accordance with article twenty-three-a of the correction law, would provide a justification for the commissioner to refuse to renew, or to suspend or revoke, such license; or
   f.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license, or the person holding a license to engage in towing has failed to maintain any of the conditions for issuance of such license as provided under this subchapter or any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1987/028 and L.L. 1993/112.
§ 20-504.1 Mandatory suspension or revocation of license.
After due notice and opportunity to be heard, the commissioner shall refuse to renew, or shall suspend or revoke a license required under this subchapter, upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following conditions:
   a.   the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable, any of such licensee's officers, principals, directors, employees, or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation, has been found by the commissioner to have unjustifiably refused to release a vehicle towed pursuant to section 20-518 or section 20-519 of this subchapter, to the vehicle's owner or the owner's agent. The commissioner shall establish standards concerning the sufficiency of proof of ownership of the vehicle and the legality of any charges demanded by the licensee for release of the vehicle. In determining whether such refusal is unjustifiable, the commissioner in addition to any other relevant fact shall consider such standards;
   b.   in a two year period, the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable, any of such licensee's officers, principals, directors, employees, or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation, has been found by the commissioner to have committed in any combination three or more violations of sections 19-169, 19-169.1 of this code or any rules promulgated thereunder, or sections 20-507, 20-509, 20-509.1, 20-510, 20-512, 20-514, 20-515, 20-516, 20-518, 20-519, 20-520, 20-520.1 or 20-527 of this subchapter or any rules promulgated thereunder;
   c.   the person holding a license to engage in towing or where applicable, any of such licensee's officers, principals, directors, employees, or stockholders owning more than ten percent of the outstanding stock of the corporation, has been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony relating to auto stripping in violation of article 165 of the penal law;
   d.   in a two year period, the person holding a tow truck operator's license has been found by the commissioner to have committed in any combination three or more violations of the provisions of sections 19-169 and 19.169.1 of this code and any rules promulgated thereunder, or sections 20-510, 20-512, 20-514, 20-515, 20-518, 20-519, 20-520, 20-520.1 or 20-527 of this subchapter or any rules promulgated thereunder;
   e.   the person holding a tow truck operator's license has been found to have operated any motor vehicle in violation of section eleven hundred ninety-two of the vehicle and traffic law during the license term, or has been found to have operated a tow truck in violation of section eleven hundred eighty-two of the vehicle and traffic law.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1993/112.
§ 20-505 Tow truck operator's license suspension or revocation; special circumstances.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, where the commissioner has reason to believe that a tow truck operator has committed an act which should provide a basis for suspension or revocation under section 20-504 or 20-504.1 of this subchapter, and the continued possession by such person of a tow truck operator's license would pose a serious danger to the safety of the public, the commissioner may immediately suspend his or her tow truck operator's license. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the suspension or revocation pursuant to the vehicle and traffic law of a license to operate a motor vehicle that is held by a person who also holds a tow truck operator's license pursuant to this subchapter, the commissioner shall immediately suspend his or her tow truck operator's license. Notice of the suspension of a tow truck operator's licence pursuant to this section shall be served on the operator and on the person who employs such operator to operate a tow truck. The commissioner shall provide the operator with the opportunity for a hearing within five days after the notification of suspension, after which the commissioner shall forthwith make a determination as to whether such suspension should continue and in addition may impose any penalty or sanction provided for under this subchapter, provided, however, that where the license to operate a motor vehicle held by a tow truck operator has been revoked pursuant to the vehicle and traffic law, the commissioner shall revoke such person's tow truck operator's license issued pursuant to this subchapter.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Appendix A at L.L. 1987/028.
Loading...