(A) Removal. Vehicles shall be removed as follows:
(1) Abandoned vehicles.
(a) Abandoned vehicles as defined in N.J.S.A. Title 39 shall be removed under the direction and supervision of the Police Department on a 24-hour-a-day basis. All calls with respect thereto shall be answered within a 20 minute response time from the time of notification under normal conditions seven days a week, anywhere within the Township limits, unless the Police Department determines it is not a threat to vehicle, traffic or persons, and could be removed during business hours. Abandoned vehicles shall be towed without charge to the Township to the aforementioned required storage area and stored thereon for no longer than 90 days without any charges or liens accruing against the Township. Abandoned vehicles remaining after 90 days may be removed from the secured area, provided that a junk title has been applied for pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. Title 39, said application to be by the tower.
(b) The tower may be penalized $150 per day for each abandoned vehicle not removed and towed within a reasonable amount of time after notification by the Police Department and may be grounds for termination of the contract.
(c) The requirement to tow abandoned motor vehicles shall only apply to public rights-of-way, easements, avenues and places, including public parks and playgrounds, and all quasi-public areas. The owner of private property shall be responsible for the removal of any unattended or disabled vehicles in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.6 and shall employ a tower of their choice.
(d) The Township retains the right to require that the abandoned vehicle shall be towed to municipal property and to retain any moneys realized from the sale of such vehicles. The Township shall pay the towers reasonable fees as set forth in this chapter for towing a vehicle sold in this manner from the proceeds of the sale. Abandoned vehicles, not claimed by the owner or lien holder, may be sold at public auction pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1 through 7. Prior to the sale at auction of any abandoned vehicle, the Township will obtain the appropriate junk title or certificate of ownership for said abandoned vehicle from the Division of Motor Vehicles, Otherwise, it shall be the responsibility of the tower to provide for the disposition of abandoned vehicles and the issuance of junk motor vehicle titles in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. Title 39. The Township Police Department shall assist in providing any information needed for the proper disposition of such vehicles.
(e) Charges for removing abandoned vehicles at the direction of the Voorhees Police Department shall be billed to the registered owner of the vehicle. In the event that the registered owner of the vehicle cannot be determined or located, the charges for removing the vehicle shall be applied to the price of the vehicle when auctioned. In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.49 et seq., storage fees that are to be applied by the Township for abandoned vehicles to be auctioned shall not exceed $3 per day per vehicle for the first 30 days of storage, and $2 per day for the 31st clay of storage and any additional day thereafter with a limit of $400 per vehicle, regardless of the duration of the storage. The Township, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.49-2.50 shall not be charged in excess of $400 for the storage of any towed vehicle.
(f) In those situations involving the confiscation of automobiles, fatal accidents or any other situation where the Township initial legal action or evidentiary evaluation is necessary requiring the storage of a vehicle for a prolonged period of time, the storage fees that are to be paid by the Township shall not exceed $3 per day per vehicle for the first 30 days of storage, and $2 per day for the 31st day of storage and any additional day thereafter with a limit of $400 per vehicle, regardless of the duration of the storage. The Township, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.49-2.50 shall not be charged in excess of $400 for the storage of any towed vehicles.
(2) Vehicles not abandoned.
(a) All vehicles involved in accidents, disablements, stolen vehicles, vehicles involved in suspected crimes and the like shall be towed and stored under the direction and supervision of the Police Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls with respect thereto shall be answered within a 20 minute response time from the time of notification under normal conditions seven days a week, anywhere within the Township limits. Vehicles shall be available for release between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Fridays, excluding legal holidays. Legal holiday hours are optional at the towers discretion. As such, if the tower decides not to open on a legal holiday any storage charge shall be assessed if the vehicle is picked up by noon on the following normal business day. Any vehicle towed and stored after 4:00 p.m. and claimed prior to 11:00 a.m. the next day shall only be charged for one day storage.
(b) The tower shall arrive at the scene of the accident within 20 minutes under normal conditions after police notification. Repeated late arrivals at the scene of accidents may result in the termination of the contract as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(c) In the event that the tower has been summoned by the Township for purposes of towing a vehicle and the owner of the vehicle has also summoned his or her own tower and said tower arrives on the scene prior to the removal of the vehicle by the Township tower, then the owner is entitled to remove his or her own vehicle at no cost or expense to the owner or to the Township. There shall be no charge to the Township for the tower appearing at the scene under said conditions. The Township will make every effort to minimize the inconvenience above to the tower.
(B) Storage. The tower shall store the abandoned and non-abandoned vehicles in the storage area as required in this chapter. The vehicles shall be stored until claimed by the owner or until auctioned by the Township in compliance with state law or as otherwise to be disposed of pursuant to state law. Vehicles to be removed shall be towed to the tower's storage area or to Township property at the discretion of the Township Police. If the Township establishes its own storage facility, all tows will be directed to that location until the lot reaches capacity. Towers will be eligible for tow costs only.
(C) Township vehicles. During the towers rotation period the tower will tow any Township-owned vehicle to any location within the Township's borders without cost to the Township. The tower may invoice for mileage cost if required to tow outside Township borders. Tows beginning in Voorhees Township, going through an adjacent municipality and returning to Voorhees Township do not qualify for mileage reimbursement.
(Ord. 247-14, passed 5-12-14)