(A) To qualify for the eligible list, an applicant must:
(1) Keep his or her garage either open or available, by one business telephone number, 24 hours per day, seven days a week;
(2) Have available, at all times, equipment in good condition capable of towing any automobile, pick-up truck or motorcycle from the streets and other public or private places in the town when called upon to do so;
(3) Have at or in the immediate vicinity of the garage sufficient fenced and enclosed storage space and facilities in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance to protect both damaged and undamaged vehicles from further damage by exposure to the elements; and
(4) Provide a zoning verification letter from the appropriate town department that states the zoning district of the applicant’s garage and storage facility and verifies that towing services are a permitted use in such district. The letter shall also verify that the proposed storage space and facilities comply with the Zoning Ordinance.
(B) The applicant must also agree to assume the obligation:
(1) To promptly tow and store all vehicles to be removed from the public streets or other public places or private property upon the request of the town;
(2) To issue a receipt to the town for each vehicle towed and stored and keep the vehicle until its release is authorized by the town;
(3) To store damaged automobiles in such manner as to secure their protection against further damage by the elements;
(4) To collect towing and storage fees from the owner of the vehicle or by the sale of the vehicle without recourse to the town, unless it is found that no probable cause existed for the towing pursuant to G.S. § 20-219.11;
(5) To pay all damages to vehicles entrusted to his or her custody as the result of his or her negligence and to maintain, for the protection of the vehicle owners, garage liability insurance applicable to claims arising from tow truck operations and garbage keepers legal liability insurance, applicable to loss or damage to vehicles within the care, custody or control of the towing service resulting from collision, fire, vandalism, explosion, theft, windstorm, hail or flood. Such insurance coverage shall be at least in the amount determined from time to time by the Town Manager after consulting with the town’s insurance advisor. To also maintain automobile liability insurance on vehicles operated by the tow truck operator and its employees for liability for bodily injury or property damage in an amount not less than the minimum amount set forth in the general statutes;
(6) To remove from the scene of a motor vehicle accident, in which the vehicle to be towed was involved, all glass, metal or debris caused by the accident; and
(7) To comply with all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances and to refrain from towing vehicles from private parking lots unless such lots are posted as required by G.S. § 20-219.2.
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see G.S. §§ 20-219.2 and 20-219.11