5.144.050   Permit issuance and denial.
   A.   A tow car vehicular permit shall be issued by the director upon receipt of a complete application, as specified in Section 5.144.040 of this chapter, and after the director has:
      1.   Physically inspected the tow car to ensure compliance with Sections 5.144.060 and 5.144.070 of this chapter; and
      2.   Physically inspected all vehicle storage locations as necessary to ensure compliance with applicable zoning regulations and other codes.
   B.   All tow car vehicular permits shall expire on September 30th of the calendar year following the date of issuance unless sooner revoked. Application for renewal shall be filed between August 1st, and August 31st, for the permit period beginning the succeeding October 1st.
   C.   A tow car vehicular permit shall authorize the operation of a single tow car and shall not be transferable to any other vehicle.
   D.   A tow car vehicular permit may be denied by the director on the following grounds:
      1.   The applicant knowingly made a false statement of fact required to be revealed in the permit application;
      2.   The information required by Section 5.144.040 of this chapter is false or incomplete;
      3.   A person with ten (10) percent or more financial interest in the operation of the tow car has been convicted of a crime, and the time for appeal has elapsed, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of the entry of a subsequent order under Penal Code Section 1203.4; or has done any act involving dishonesty, fraud or deceit with intent to substantially benefit himself or herself, or another, or substantially injure another.
   Provided, however, that the permit shall be denied upon any of the grounds specified in this subsection (D)(3) only if, in the opinion of the chief of police, contained in a recommendation to the director, the crime or act is substantially related to the qualifications, functions or duties of a tow car owner or owner of a business which operates tow cars. However, no person shall be denied a permit solely on the basis that he has been convicted of a felony if he has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation under State Penal Code Sections 4852.01, et seq., or that he or she has been convicted of a misdemeanor if he or she has met all applicable requirements of the criteria of rehabilitation developed to evaluate the rehabilitation of a person when considering the denial of a license under State Penal Code Section 482(a). (Prior code § 42.04.054)