(A) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases and words shall have the meanings given, herein:
ABANDONED VEHICLE. A vehicle located on a public right-of-way not in operation and with no operator or owner visible and as defined in N.J.S.A. Title 39.
BASIC TOW. Private property towing as defined in this section and other ancillary services that include the following: arriving at the site from which a motor vehicle is to be towed; 30 minutes waiting time; hooking the motor vehicle to, or loading a motor vehicle on to a tow truck; transporting a motor vehicle to a storage facility; unhooking or unloading a motor vehicle from the tow truck; and situating the vehicle in the space in which it is to be stored. BASIC TOW also includes issuing documents for the release of a motor vehicle to its owner or other person authorized to take the motor vehicle; issuing an itemized bill; three trips to the motor vehicle in storage, which, if applicable, include making a vehicle available to an insurance appraiser or adjuster; issuing documents for the release of a motor vehicle to its owner or other person authorized to take the motor vehicle; and retrieving a motor vehicle from storage during the hours in which the storage facility is open.
CHIEF OF POLICE. The Chief of Police of the Township of Voorhees or his or her designee.
DEBRIS. Shall include but not be limited to, glass, sheet metal, fiberglass, fluids, tires, vehicle components and other material that may normally be associated with a motor vehicle accident.
DECOUPLING. Releasing a motor vehicle to its owner or operator when the motor vehicle has been, or is about to be, hooked to or lifted by a tow truck, but prior to the motor vehicle actually having been moved or removed from the property.
DISABLED VEHICLE. Any vehicle located on or along any public right-of-way, not in operation and with no operator visible and/or not legally parked, shall constitute an inoperable vehicle.
EXTENDED SITE CLEAN-UP. The removal of debris at the point of impact, as well as along the path of pre-impact and/or post-impact, where vehicle disintegration and/or other property damage occurred as a result of the motor vehicle accident or incident and shall be included by the terms of the contract.
FULL CAPACITY TOWER. A tower with the capability and equipment to handle all tow regardless of class or weight of vehicle.
GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF VOORHEES. For the purposes of this chapter, the geographic center of Voorhees shall be the intersection Cooper Road and Centennial Boulevard. All measurements taken from that location shall be by radius and without regard to actual roadways.
IMPOUNDED VEHICLE. Any suspected stolen, unregistered, uninsured, unsafe vehicle or any vehicle suspected of being involved in a criminal investigation on which a "hold" has been placed by the Police Department.
LIMITED CAPACITY TOWER. A tower with the capability and equipment to tow only light duty tows as further described throughout this chapter.
PERSON. Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
STANDARD SITE CLEAN-UP. The amount of debris removal that should reasonably be anticipated at the scene of a motor vehicle accident or incident. The STANDARD SITE CLEAN-UP is usually confined to the point of impact, the final resting points of all vehicles and the associated debris field. The fee for this service shall be included in the removal/recovery fee that is established by the terms of this contract.
TARPING. The covering of a motor vehicle to prevent weather damage.
TOW TRUCK. A motor vehicle equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings, tilt-beds or similar equipment designed for the towing or recovery of motor vehicles. Any truck used in service for Voorhees towing must have adequately operating hydraulic equipment which meets current industry standards.
TOWER. A person engaged in the business or offering the services of a vehicle tower or towing service, whereby disabled motor vehicles are towed or otherwise removed from the places where they are disabled, impounded or abandoned by use of a tower or truck so designed for that purpose.
TOWING. The moving or removing from public or private property or from a storage facility by a motor vehicle or a consumer's motor vehicle that is damaged as a result of an accident or otherwise disabled, recovered after being stolen or is parked illegally or otherwise without authorization, parked during a time at which such parking is not permitted or otherwise parked without authorization or the immobilization of or preparation for moving or removing of such motor vehicle, for which a service charge is made, either directly or indirectly. Dues or other charges of clubs or associations, which provide towing services to club or association members, shall not be considered a service charge for purposes of this definition.
TOWNSHIP. The Township of Voorhees, located in Camden County, New Jersey.
TRANSMISSION DISCONNECT. Manipulating a motor vehicle's transmission, so that the motor vehicle may be towed.
VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle of any type or size, including but not limited to passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers and other heavy vehicles and equipment.
WAITING TIME. Any time a towing company spends at the site from which a motor vehicle will be towed, during which the towing company is prevented from performing any work by another individual, beyond the time included as part of a basic tow. Waiting time may be charged to the vehicle owner after the 30th minute the tow operator is on scene.
WINCHING SERVICE. Any operation in which a vehicle is moved onto a roadway, from a position off the roadway, or any other operation in which substantial work is required to prepare a vehicle for normal towing. Winching includes righting a motor vehicle that is on its side or upside down. Winching is not the standard pulling of a vehicle onto a tilt-bed carrier or lifting a vehicle with a conventional tow sling, Winching shall be based upon each half-hour spent performing winching.
WINDOW WRAP. Any material used to cover motor vehicle windows that have been damaged.
(B) When not consistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future; words in plural number include the singular number; and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word SHALL is always mandatory and not merely directory.
(Ord. 247-14, passed 5-12-14)