a. Within two hours subsequent to the towing of any motor vehicle pursuant to any provision of this code, any rules promulgated pursuant thereto or any rules promulgated by the department of transportation pursuant to any other provision of law, the tow truck operator or his or her designee shall notify the local police precinct either in person or by electronic submission that the vehicle was towed. Such information shall be made available, upon request, to the owner of the vehicle or to any person authorized by the owner to have possession of the vehicle. Such list shall include the make and model of the vehicle, its license plate number, the reason why the vehicle was towed and the location and hours during which the vehicle may be retrieved.
b. The provisions of subdivision a shall not apply where such towing is conducted in the physical presence of or with the consent of a person in charge of the vehicle or where, within two hours of such towing, information relating to such towing is entered by or on behalf of a governmental official or agency into the New York statewide police information network.