HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 1407 ORDINANCE NO. 1407
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN PARK
AMENDING CHAPTER 100 OF THE BALDWIN PARK MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE
OFFICIAL POLICE TOW TRUCK SERVICES FRANCHISE ORDINANCE
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BALDWIN
PARK DOES HEREBY ORDAIN:
SECTION 1. That Section 100 of the Baldwin Park Municipal Code is hereby amended as
follows:
CHAPTER 100: OFFICIAL POLICE TOW TRUCK SERVICES
Section
General Provisions
100.010 Intent and purpose
100.020 Definitions
100.030 Franchise agreements
100.040 Franchise fee
100.050 Franchise fee reports
Franchise Procedures and Conditions
100.090 Selection of franchisees
100.100 Franchise term and conditions
100.110 Uniform Tow fee rates
100.120 Business license required
100.130 Transfer or assignment of franchise
Operating and Equipment Standards
100.200 Tow truck equipment requirements
100.210 Rules of operation
100.220 Response time
100.230 Rotation system
100.235 Non-discrimination
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Cancellation, Revocation or Suspension of Franchise
100.250 Grounds for cancellation, revocation or suspension
100.260 Procedure for action against official police tow service
100.270 Liquidated damages
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 100.010 INTENT AND PURPOSE.
It is the intent of this chapter to prescribe the basic regulations for the operation of "Official
Police Towing Services" in the City in responding to police emergency situations and in the
removal of vehicles which are apparently abandoned, improperly parked or stopped on public
property, or involved in an accident, or which constitute an obstruction to traffic because of
mechanical failure. It is the intent of the City Council in enacting the ordinance codified in this
chapter to provide a fair and impartial means of distributing requests for towing services among
the best qualified towing firm or firms, and to insure that such service is prompt and reasonably
priced, and in the best interest of the public as well as the interest of efficient policing operations
for the removal from public streets of such vehicles.
§ 100.020 DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly
indicates or requires a different meaning.
ATTENDANT or OPERATOR. A trained and/or qualified individual responsible for the
operation of a tow car,tow truck or vehicle storage facility.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. The position which is charged with the administration of
the financial affairs of the City.
HOLD FOR EVIDENCE. A designation by the storing/impounding Police Department
employee requesting a level of care above that generally accorded to stored or impounded
vehicles. Within ten calendar days after the date of the tow, the Official Police Tow Service
shall contact the handling Police Department employee for further instructions as to the handling
and disposition of any vehicle designated as HOLD FOR EVIDENCE.
IMPOUNDED VEHICLE. Any vehicle containing evidence of criminal activity, or
which in and of itself provides evidence of a criminal act, that is removed from a site and taken
to the tow yard at the direction of a Police Department employee and for which a vehicle report
(currently, form CHP 180) is provided to the Official Police Tow Service.
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OFFICIAL POLICE TOW SERVICE. A towing company having a franchise with the
City to provide towing services to the City and/or Police Department. An Official Police Tow
Service shall be used by the City and/or Police Department for any situation where a tow truck is
required.
STORED VEHICLE. Any vehicle removed from a site and taken to a tow yard at the
direction of a Police Department employee, and for which a vehicle report (currently, form CHP
180) is provided to the Official Police Tow Service.
TOW CAR or TOW TRUCK. A motor vehicle which has been altered or designed and
equipped for, and exclusively used in the business of, towing vehicles by means of a crane, tow
bar, tow line, flat bed, roll back, or dolly, or is otherwise exclusively used to render assistance to
other vehicles.
§ 100.030 FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS.
Tow truck operator or companies designated as an Official Police Tow Service, as defined in §
100.020, shall enter into a written franchise agreement with the City. Each franchise agreement
shall contain eligibility requirements, operating regulations, and fee schedules as adopted by the
City Council. Every Official Police Tow Service shall post in a conspicuous place in the interior
of each tow truck operated by said Official Police Tow Service an approved rate schedule in a
form and location approved by the Chief Executive Officer.
§ 100.040 FRANCHISE FEE.
An Official Police Tow Service granted a franchise pursuant to the provisions of this chapter
shall pay the City a franchise fee of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total gross revenue of an
Official Police Tow Service derived from the tows assigned by the Police Department including
storage of said vehicles. The franchise fee shall be payable monthly to the City during the term
of the franchise. All terms and provisions for payment of the fee shall be clearly set forth in the
franchise agreement as provided in § 100.030.
§ 100.050 FRANCHISE FEE REPORTS.
(A) Annual income statement. Every Official Police Tow Service shall annually
provide the City with an income statement of the Official Police Tow Service derived from the
tows assigned by the City or Police Department. Such statements shall be in such substance and
format as may be approved by the Director of Finance or his or her designee.
(B) Monthly report. In addition to the annual income statement, each monthly
franchise fee payment made by the Official Police Tow Service to the City shall be accompanied
by a brief report showing the basis for calculating the monthly franchise fee and a written
statement, signed under penalty of perjury by an officer of the Official Police Tow Service,
which identifies in detail the number of official police tow services performed and sets forth the
basis for exempting any such tow services from calculation of the franchise fee payment for such
month.
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The monthly report shall include the following:
(1) Total police impounds;
(2) Number of times dispatched by Police Department;
(3) Number of these calls resulting in impounds;
(4) Number of vehicles sold on lien sale under authority of Cal. Civil Code §
3072, and reporting said lien sales as per authority of Cal. Vehicle Code §
22705;
(5) Number of vehicles sold under authority of Cal. Civil Code § 3073;
(6) For individual sales,the DMV release of liability form;
(7) For all bulk sales, the name of the salvage company or individual
purchaser and the vehicle identification numbers of all vehicles sold;
(8) Number of calls answered in which time beyond one hour was required to
handle;
(9) Any responses to City requests for tow services in excess of 30 minutes;
and
(10) Calculation of the average response time for official police tow services.
FRANCHISE PROCEDURES AND CONDITIONS
§ 100.090 SELECTION OF FRANCHISEES.
(A) At least 90 calendar days prior to the date an existing Official Police Tow Service
franchise is due to expire, or whenever the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee
determines that the City has an established need for a new or additional tow truck operator to
provide Official Police Tow Services to the City, the Chief Executive Officer or his or her
designee shall request that the Department of Finance send out a notice of request for
qualifications for a tow truck operator except where the performance of an existing Official
Police Tow Service has been exemplary in which case the franchise shall be renewed by the City
Council. The City Council by majority vote must make the determination of whether "the
performance of an existing Official Police Tow Service has been exemplary." The City
Council's decision regarding "exemplary" services is final and cannot be appealed. The request
for qualifications shall be prepared by the Department of Finance and shall be approved by the
Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee. Any proposals shall be reviewed by the Chief
Executive Officer or his or her designee. The Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee
shall select the most qualified proposal(s), if any, and the Baldwin Park Police Department shall
conduct a background investigation on the operator and his/her employees, and Chief Executive
Officer shall verify all information included in the proposal submitted to the City.
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(B) Upon successful completion of the background investigation, the Chief Executive
Officer or his or her designee shall recommend, in writing, to the City Council the award of a
franchise based on the bidder's compliance with the objective criteria established by this chapter.
In preparing requests for and evaluating proposals received by the City, the Department of
Finance and the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee shall comply with the procedures
and criteria adopted by this chapter.
(C) The City Council has the discretion to grant a franchise to a tow truck provider
that does not meet each of the requirements set forth in this chapter, but only where it is
determined that full and complete compliance shall be achieved within six months of the date the
franchise is awarded.
(D) For the purposes of this section, the City has an established need for a new or
additional Official Police Tow Service if any of the following occurs:
(1) An existing Official Police Tow Service's franchise is revoked in
of 100.245 of this chapter; or
accordance with the provisions § P ,
(2) The response times of all of the existing Official Police Tow Services fail
to meet the average response time required by § 100.220 because of a demonstrable increase in
the volume of official tows; or
(3) The City annexes additional area and the Chief Executive Officer or his or
her designee, in his/her sole discretion, determines that the increased area and population warrant
additional Official Police Tow Services to adequately protect the public health, safety and
welfare.
(E) To be eligible for a franchise under this Chapter, a tow truck operator or company
shall have a minimum of five years of verifiable experience performing law enforcement towing
and storage and shall have paid all applicable City fees and business licenses during said period
where said business was maintained in the City prior to the issuance of a franchise.
§100.100 FRANCHISE TERM AND CONDITIONS.
All Official Police Tow Services shall be subject to the terms and conditions specified in this
chapter, as well as any terms or conditions specified in their respective franchise agreements.
(A) Term. All Official Police Tow Service franchises granted pursuant to this chapter
may be exclusive or non-exclusive and shall be for a term of four to ten years as specified by the
City Council in any franchise agreement between the City and the Official Police Tow Service.
(B) Number of franchises. No provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to require
the restricting of the number of franchises awarded by the City to one or any other particular
number, and no provision of this chapter shall be deemed to require the City Council to grant any
franchise if the council determines that the grant of any such franchise is not in the best interest
of the City and the public.
§ 100.110 UNIFORM TOW FEE RATES.
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(A) Fee schedules. The City shall establish a uniform tow fee schedule to be used by
all Official Police Tow Services. The uniform tow fee schedule will be determined by using the
average tow fee allowed by the California Highway Patrol (the "CHP") for the Baldwin Park
region, for those Official Police Tow Services with contracts with the CHP. Said rates shall be
adjusted annually by the Chief Executive Officer unless an adjustment to rates is approved more
frequently by the CHP. All Official Police Tow Services shall only charge the tow fee rates
established pursuant to the foregoing procedure.
(B) Fee disputes. Should there be any dispute between the Official Police Tow
Service and a vehicle owner or property owner over rates, fees or charges imposed for services
rendered under this chapter, such dispute shall be decided by the Chief Executive Officer or his
or her designee, and the Official Police Tow Service shall make no demands upon the vehicle
owner or property owner for a sum in excess of the amount determined to be reasonable by the
Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee. The Chief Executive Officer or his or her
designee may hold an administrative hearing on any such dispute, if any party to the dispute so
requests. Such hearing shall be conducted in the same manner and according to the same rules
set forth in § 100.260(D)(1)through(D)(3) of this chapter.
§ 100.120 BUSINESS LICENSE REQUIRED.
Each Official Police Tow Service shall have and maintain a valid license to do business in the
City at all times during the term of its franchise agreement.
§ 100.130 TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF FRANCHISE.
(A) Prior written consent required. Any Official Police Tow Service shall not sell,
transfer, lease, assign, sublet, mortgage, or dispose of, either in whole or in part, either by forced
or involuntary sale, or by ordinary sale, contract, consolidation or otherwise, the franchise or any
rights or privileges granted therein, without obtaining the prior, written consent of the City
Council. Any request to transfer or assign the franchise must be in writing and must be
submitted to the City at least 120 days prior to the effective date of such sale, transfer, or
assignment.
(B) Recommendation to City council. Upon receipt of a written request to sell,
transfer, lease, assign, sublet, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of an Official Police Tow Service
franchise, the City's Chief Executive Officer shall investigate the proposed transferee or assignee
and determine whether such proposed transferee or assignee is qualified to serve as an Official
Police Tow Service operator pursuant to the criteria and requirements set forth in this chapter
and contained in the franchise agreement, and shall make a recommendation to the City Council.
(C) Change of control defined. The prohibition against the sale, transfer, lease,
assignment, subletting, mortgage, or disposal of any interest in the franchise shall apply to any
change in control of the Official Police Tow Service operator. The word CONTROL as used
herein is not limited to a change in major stockholders or partners of the Official Police Tow
Service, but also includes actual working control in whatever manner exercised. In the event that
an Official Police Tow Service operator is a corporation, prior written consent of the City
Council shall be required where ownership or control of more than 49% of the voting stock of
the tow truck operator is acquired by a person or group of persons acting in concert, none of
whom own or control the voting stock of the Official Police Tow Service operator, either
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singularly or collectively, as of the effective date of the franchise. Provided, however, that
nothing in this provision shall be construed to require the prior authorization of the City Council
for any transfer of the franchise from an Official Police Tow Service operator to a wholly owned
subsidiary.
(D) Grounds for revocation of franchise. Any attempt to sell, transfer, lease, assign,
sublet, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of an Official Police Tow Service franchise without the
prior, written consent of the City Council shall be null and void and shall subject the offending
Official Police Tow Service to cancellation, revocation or suspension of its franchise subject to
the terms and procedures set forth in this chapter.
OPERATING AND EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
§ 100.200 TOW TRUCK EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
(A) Capabilities. Official Police Tow Services shall provide towing equipment
capable of providing for the following services:
(1) Recovery truck(s) with an adjustable boom with a minimum lifting
capacity of at least five tons.
(2) Wheel lift towing.
(3) Roll back/flatbed towing.
(4) Towing in parking garages.
(5) Towing from off road areas.
(6) Towing of large and oversized vehicles.
(7) Towing of motorcycles without causing additional damage.
(B) State requirements. All tow trucks shall be equipped as provided in the California
Vehicle Code.
(C) Minimum equipment available. Official Police Tow Services shall, at all times,
have at least three fully equipped and operational tow trucks in service. All of the tow trucks in
service must have a minimum capacity of one ton. At least one of the tow trucks in service must
have a flatbed tow truck. At least one of the three tow trucks in service must have a five ton
lifting capacity.
(D) Unlocking vehicles. Every Official Police Tow Service shall be equipped for and
have personnel proficient in unlocking locked vehicles, where feasible and practicable, and when
requested to do so by authorized Police Department employees.
§ 100.210 RULES OF OPERATION.
(A) Request for services. Official Police Tow Services shall provide towing service
when:
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(1) The owner or driver of a disabled vehicle is unable, or fails, to specify a
garage or tow service; or
(2) A disabled vehicle presents a hazard; or
(3) An authorized Police Department employee requests a towing service for
the purposes of storing or impounding a vehicle.
(B) Business hours. Official Police Tow Service's business office shall be located
within the storage yard and attended at all times for servicing the public and the City from 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the holidays of January 1, known as New
Year's Day; third Monday in January, known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday; third
Monday in February, known as Washington's Birthday/President's Day; last Monday in May,
known as Memorial Day; July 4, known as Independence Day; first Monday in September,
known as Labor Day; the second Monday in October, known as Columbus Day; November 11,
known as Veteran's Day; fourth Thursday in November, known as Thanksgiving Day; and
December 25, known as Christmas Day. If January 1, July 4, November 11 or December 25 fall
upon a Sunday, the Monday following is a holiday and if they fall upon Saturday, the preceding
Friday is a holiday.
(C) Signs required.
(1) An Official Police Tow Service's business office shall have a sign posted
including the company name, address, phone number, and hours of operation, clearly visible
from the roadway.
(2) An Official Police Tow Service shall maintain a sign listing the rates and
charges of all towing and storage services offered. Such rates sign shall be conspicuously placed
in the business office or such other places where customer financial transactions take place.
(3) Each Official Police Tow Service shall comply with Cal. Vehicle Code §
27907 regarding signs on tow trucks.
(D) Release or availability of vehicles.
(1) An Official Police Tow Service may collect an additional charge for
release of vehicles after normal business hours.
(2) An Official Police Tow Service shall release vehicles stored or impounded
by the Police Department, pursuant to authorization provided by appropriate employees of the
Police Department. Such authorization shall be in writing on a form provided by the Police
Department.
(3) All vehicles stored or impounded as a result of a tow ordered by the Police
Department shall be made available to the owner of the vehicle or his representative, any
insurance agent, insurance adjustor, or any body shop or car dealer, for the purpose of estimating
or appraising damages, except vehicles with a "HOLD FOR EVIDENCE" designation.
(E) Available on demand. An Official Police Tow Service must be available to
promptly respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to all requests by the City
for towing services.
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(F) Professional attire. All operators of an Official Police Tow Service responding to
a request for towing service by the City and/or Police Department shall appear in appropriate
business attire, which shall include a shirt with the company logo of the Official Police Tow
Service. If an operator fails to appear in appropriate attire, the officer on the scene may refuse to
allow the Official Police Tow Service to provide towing service at that time. However, the
response by the Official Police Tow Service shall still be counted as a turn in the rotation system
described in this chapter.
(G) Removal of hazards. After being dispatched by the City and/or Police
Department to the scene, an Official Police Tow Service operator shall cooperate with the police
officers in removing hazards and illegally parked vehicles as requested, including the complete
cleanup of the scene by all Official Police Tow Service operators responding. It is the duty of the
police officers to determine when such vehicle should be impounded or moved, and the Official
Police Tow Service operator shall abide by their decisions. This requirement shall only apply to
Official Police Tow Services summoned to a scene in response to an official request by the
Police Department for tow services.
(H) Towing of City vehicles. Each Official Police Tow Service shall tow all City
police vehicles free of charge within the City's corporate limits. City police vehicles outside the
City's corporate limits shall be towed at 75% of the established rates, as set forth in §
100.110(A) of this chapter. In addition, each Official Police Tow Service shall tow all other City
vehicles, whether within or outside the City's corporate limits, at 75% of the established rates, as
set forth in § 100.110(A) of this chapter.
(I) Responsibility for own acts. Each Official Police Tow Service and its officers,
employees and agents shall be responsible for their acts while performing duties pursuant to their
respective franchise agreements as follows:
(1) The owners of Official Police Tow Service participating in towing
assignments by the City and/or Police Department shall be responsible for the acts of their
employees while on duty.
(2) Each participating Official Police Tow Service shall be responsible for
damage to vehicles while in its possession caused by the active or passive negligence of that
Official Police Tow Service.
(3) Each Official Police Tow Service shall be responsible for damage to
persons or property caused by the active or passive negligence or willful misconduct of its
employees en route to or from a City request for tow services.
(4) Each Official Police Tow Service and its employees, drivers, and agents
shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including but not limited to all
applicable provisions of the California Vehicle Code.
(J) Liability insurance. Each Official Police Tow Service shall procure and maintain,
at its sole cost, a policy of public liability insurance in an amount and form acceptable to the City
Risk Manager. Such liability policy shall be maintained in full force and effect for the entire
term of the tow company's franchise agreement and proof of such public liability insurance shall
be provided to the City on demand.
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(K) Indemnity. Each Official Police Tow Service agrees to protect, indemnify, defend
and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents and employees, from and against any and all
claims, demands, or liability from or relating to loss, damage, or injury to persons or property in
any manner whatsoever arising out of or incident to the Official Police Tow Service's franchise
with the City or with the Official Police Tow Service's performance of work under such
franchise, including, without limitation, all consequential damages caused in the preparation to
respond to an official police request for towing services, in providing official police towing
services and subsequent storage of vehicles, and in other related maintenance activities, whether
such claims are caused by the negligence of the tow company or its agents and employees.
(L) Records and offices subject to inspection.
(1) All Official Police Tow Service's records, equipment, and storage facilities
will be subject to periodic checks by the City and/or Police Department or other City
investigators during normal business hours.
(2) Every Official Police Tow Service shall maintain all offices, storage
facilities and equipment in a neat, clean and organized manner.
(3) Every Official Police Tow Service shall provide access to employees of
the City at any time during normal business hours, for the purpose of inspection or audit to
determine that the objectives and conditions of the Official Police Tow Service's franchise with
the City are being fulfilled.
(4) An Official Police Tow Service shall record its time in and its time out on
every tow truck assignment. Such records shall be available and open to City examination.
(M) Communications Requirements. All Official Police Tow Services shall comply
with the following:
(1) Official Police Tow Service shall maintain a telephonic point of contact
capable of receiving City requests for towing services 24 hours a day.
(2) Each Official Police Tow Service shall require its internal dispatch to
retain data and records relating to the City's requests for towing services on premises for the term
of the franchise.
(3) Each Official Police Tow Service shall require the telephonic point of
contact to promptly accept and relay requests for towing services made by the City.
(4) Each Official Police Tow Service shall install and maintain at all times
during the term of its franchise with the City,communications between their tow vehicle(s) and
the official telephonic point of contact. This communication may be either by two way radio or
cellular telephone.
(5) Each Official Police Tow Service shall maintain a 24 hour per day
communication contact with their tow vehicle(s).
(6) Each Official Police Tow Service shall maintain a 24 hour per day
telephone service to receive calls from the public.
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(N) Vehicle storage facilities. Every Official Police Tow Service shall have a secure
and environmentally safe vehicle storage facility with a minimum of 15,000 usable square feet.
(1) The vehicle storage facility must be located within the corporate City
limits of the City.
(2) The vehicle storage facility must be completely enclosed by a six foot high
wall or fence with no holes, gaps, or other unsecured openings, and a gate. The wall or fence
shall have two or more strands of barbed wire installed in such a manner so as to discourage
access over the top of the wall or fence, or the wall or fence shall be a minimum of eight feet in
height without barbed wire. All gates into the storage yard shall meet the same standards
required of the wall or fence. Any damage to walls, fences or gates which allows, or could
potentially allow, unauthorized access to the vehicle storage facility must be repaired within 24
hours.
(3) The vehicle storage facility shall have adequate lighting, and comply with
all applicable building codes, zoning regulations, environmental laws and regulations, and any
and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations established by federal, state, county and City
governments.
(4) Security at the vehicle storage facility shall be adequate to preclude theft,
vandalism, or damage by activity while in the tow operator's establishment. The view to all
vehicles must be obstructed from the roadway. No vehicles shall be left parked or stored on the
public streets at any time. The Official Police Tow Service operator must provide off-street
parking for its equipment and be able to accommodate at least four additional vehicles for
customer parking. Storage vehicles should be secured away from the customer parking area and
on-site office area.
(5) Each Official Police Tow Service operator shall conspicuously post a tag
on the windshield of all vehicles ordered impounded by the Police Department. No vehicle
ordered impounded by the Police Department shall be released by the Official Police Tow
Service operator until said operator has verified that the applicable City release charges have
been paid and obtained written authorization from the Police Department to release a particular
vehicle.
(6) Each vehicle storage facility must have adequate storage facilities to
provide storage of four vehicles within an enclosed area, totally protected from the weather,
contamination or handling by unauthorized person(s). The Police Department will designate
when a vehicle is to be placed into inside storage and may place a seal on each door of the
vehicle and/or door(s) of the impound facility. Vehicles placed into inside storage shall not be
removed therefrom without written authorization from the Police Department.
(7) Each vehicle storage facility must provide an inspection area for
authorized members of the Police Department. Such area shall have, at a minimum, a covered
inspection area (roof) with a paved (concrete or asphalt) surface, and an inspection pit or vehicle
lift.
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(8) No Official Police Tow Service shall perform any work upon any vehicle
stored or impounded by the Police Department without first obtaining written authorization from
the Police Department and the registered owner of the vehicle.
(9) Each Official Police Tow Service shall not dispose of any vehicle stored
or impounded by official request of the Police Department, through any process whatsoever,
without first obtaining written authorization from the Police Department to dispose of the
vehicle.
(0) Unclaimed vehicles. When disposing of unclaimed vehicles, Official Police Tow
Services shall abide by all federal, state and local laws pertaining thereto.
(P) Official storage lot. All vehicles stored or impounded as a result of a tow ordered
by the Police Department shall be towed directly to an official storage lot unless the Police
Department or other person legally in charge of the vehicle requests that it be taken to some
other location. Vehicle release fees shall be established by resolution of the City Council.
§ 100.220 RESPONSE TIME.
(A) Average and maximum response time. Each Official Police Tow Service agrees
that, for any 30 day period, the average response time pursuant to requests for tow service by the
police department, shall not exceed 25 minutes. Each Official Police Tow Service also agrees
that the maximum response time for any single request for tow service by the Police Department
shall not exceed 30 minutes. As used in this section, RESPONSE TIME is defined as the
elapsed time between the relaying of the tow service request to the answering service and arrival
of the tow vehicle on the scene.
(B) Delay. When it becomes evident that there will be a delay in responding to a
request for towing service, the responding Official Police Tow Service shall advise the Police
Department of this delay and the reason for the delay.
§ 100.230 ROTATION SYSTEM.
(A) Rotation list. Each Official Police Tow Service designated as an Official Police
Tow Service shall be placed on a "rotation list" in an initial order to be determined by the Police
Department. The rotation list shall be used whenever a driver or owner of a disabled vehicle is
unable to specify a particular garage or tow service, or whenever an authorized Police
Department employee requests the storage or impounding of a vehicle.
(B) Turns in rotation. Each Official Police Tow Service shall be called, in turn
according to the established rotation list, to respond to a Police Department request for towing
service and, when in turn, shall have exclusive right to provide service as follows:
(1) The Official Police Tow Service at the top of the order on the rotation list
shall have preference to tow all vehicles from a specific scene, provided that Official Police Tow
Service responds with all equipment needed to accomplish the tows within the response time
specified herein.
(2) Whenever an Official Police Tow Service cannot respond with all
equipment needed to accomplish all tows at a specific scene within the response time specific
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herein, the next Official Police Tow Service on the rotation list shall be called to provide service
to the remaining vehicle(s).
(C) Loss of turn in rotation. Whenever an Official Police Tow Service cannot, for
any reason, respond with any equipment needed to accomplish the requested service within the
response time specified herein, that Official Police Tow Service shall be passed over and the next
Official Police Tow Service on the rotation list will be called. The Official Police Tow Service
shall become eligible to provide service again only in its next turn in rotation.
(D) Exceptions.
(1) Whenever the driver or owner of a disabled vehicle specifies a particular
club, association or tow service to be called to provide service, such calls shall not constitute a
"rotation" call.
(2) Whenever a Police Department employee determines that an emergency
exists because an Official Police Tow Service is unable, for any reason, to provide adequate tow
service, the Police Department employee shall have the right to have such duties performed by
any other means available.
(3) Whenever an Official Police Tow Service is called to tow a City police
vehicle within the City's corporate limits, such call shall not constitute a"rotation"call.
§ 100.235 NON-DISCRIMINATION.
In the performance of its duties under this chapter, an Official Police Tow Service shall not
discriminate against any member of the public, employee, subcontractor, or applicant for
employment because of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, sexual
orientation, or age.
CANCELLATION, REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF FRANCHISE
§ 100.250 GROUNDS FOR CANCELLATION,REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION.
The franchise agreement entered into between City and Official Police Tow Service pursuant to
§ 100.030, shall be subject to cancellation, revocation or suspension by the Chief Executive
Officer either as a whole or as to any person or vehicle described therein. The procedure for
such cancellation, revocation or suspension is set forth in § 100.260.
(A) Notice and contents of notice. The Official Police Tow Service shall be given
five days written notice to appear before the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee to
show cause why the franchise should not be revoked, suspended, or canceled for any of the
reasons set forth below.
(B) Basis for action. A franchise may be revoked, suspended, or canceled for any of
the following reasons:
(1) An Official Police Tow Service fails to pay any City business license fees
or other fees provided in the franchise agreement or by the Baldwin Park Municipal Code; or
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(2) An Official Police Tow Service breaches any rules, regulations, or
conditions set forth in the franchise agreement or the Baldwin Park Municipal Code; or
(3) An Official Police Tow Service, or any person having any ownership
interest in that Official Police Tow Service or any employee of that Official Police Tow Service,
violates any federal, state or local law; or
(4) An Official Police Tow Service fails to maintain a satisfactory level of
service to the police or public; or
(5) An Official Police Tow Service fails to keep any tow vehicle in safe
condition and good repair; or
(6) An Official Police Tow Service fails to use distinctive coloring,
monogram, or insignia in compliance with Cal. Vehicle Code § 27907; or
(7) An Official Police Tow Service deviates from the schedule of rates set
forth in the franchise; or
(8) An Official Police Tow Service passes on a tow assignment more than
four times in any calendar month. PASSING is defined as refusing, for any reason, any tow
assignment from the Police Department, including, without limitation, the towing of City
vehicles at no charge; or
(9) An Official Police Tow Service fails to respond to requests for tow service
by the Police Department within the response time established by § 100.220; or
(10) An Official Police Tow Service commits fraud or deceit upon the City,
including, without limitation, falsifying data and records relating to the City's requests for towing
services, falsifying the number of official police tow services performed, falsifying the response
times to City requests for tow services; or
(11) An Official Police Tow Service commits fraud or deceit upon any person
to whom that Official Police Tow Service provides tow truck services; or
(12) An Official Police Tow Service defaults on the performance of its material
obligations under this chapter or the franchise and fails to cure such default within ten calendar
days after receipt of written notice of the default and a reasonable opportunity to cure the default;
or
(13) An Official Police Tow Service fails to provide or maintain in full force
and effect the insurance coverage as required by this chapter and as set forth in the franchise
agreement; or
(14) An Official Police Tow Service violates any order or ruling of any
regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Official Police Tow Service relative to its tow truck
business, unless such order or ruling is being contested by that Official Police Tow Service by
appropriate proceedings conducted in good faith; or
(15) An Official Police Tow Service becomes insolvent, unable or unwilling to
pay its debts and obligations, or is adjudged to be bankrupt.
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§ 100.260 PROCEDURE FOR ACTION AGAINST OFFICIAL POLICE TOW
SERVICE.
Whenever the City determines that an Official Police Tow Service has violated any applicable
federal, state or local law, or has violated any provision of the franchise between the Official
Police Tow Service and the City, the City shall give that Official Police Tow Service written
notice of the violation and an opportunity to be heard on the matter in accordance with the
following procedures:
(A) Written notice. The City shall notify the offending Official Police Tow Service in
writing of any and all violations. Such notice shall be delivered to the particular Official Police
Tow Service in violation by personal delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, shall clearly set forth the specific violation, shall demand that the offending official
police tow service cure the violation, and shall set forth the time period for curing the violation.
The time period for curing a violation shall be determined by the Chief Executive Officer, or his
or her designee, based on the nature of the violation, but under no circumstances shall the time
period to cure be less than ten calendar days. If the Official Police Tow Service fails to correct
the violation within the time prescribed by the notice, or if the official police tow service fails to
commence good faith efforts to correct the violation within the time prescribed in the notice, the
City shall temporarily suspend the Official Police Tow Service's franchise with the City pursuant
to the provisions of division (B) of this section or shall give the Official Police Tow Service 14
calendar days written notice of a hearing before the Chief Executive Officer, or his or her
designee. The written notice shall specify the alleged violations and the recommended action to
be taken.
(B) Temporary suspension. For equipment violations or business omissions, where
the Chief Executive Officer desires to provide an Official Police Tow Service an additional
opportunity beyond the initial notice to correct violations or omissions, the Chief Executive
Officer, or his or her designee, may suspend that Official Police Tow Service from providing
service for a period of time, not to exceed seven calendar days. Such suspension shall not be
considered punitive and shall be for the specific purpose of providing Official Police Tow
Service time to correct specified violations or omissions. If the Official Police Tow Service still
fails to take corrective action during the temporary suspension period, the City shall give that
Official Police Tow Service 14 calendar day's written notice of a hearing before the Chief
Executive Officer,or his or her designee. The written notice shall specify the alleged violations
and the recommended action to be taken.
(C) Suspension pending hearing. For all substantive violations of law or the
provisions of the franchise agreement between the Official Police Tow Service and the City, or
for refusal to correct violations after proper notice is served upon the offending Official Police
Tow Service pursuant to divisions (A) and/or (B) of this section, where the Police Department
intends to take punitive action against the offending Official Police Tow Service or revoke the
franchise in its entirety, the Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee, may suspend the
offending Official Police Tow Service from providing service for a period of time, not to exceed
14 calendar days, in preparation for a hearing.
(D) Informal hearing. The Chief Executive Officer or his or her designee, shall
conduct such hearing and may receive information from any source deemed relevant to the
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inquiry. The purpose of the hearing shall be to determine the factual basis of the allegation(s)
against the Official Police Tow Service.
(1) The hearing shall be informal in nature.
(2) Formal rules of evidence (California Evidence Code and/or the Federal
Rules of Evidence) shall not apply.
(3) The offending Official Police Tow Service shall have the opportunity to
respond to the allegations and present information relevant to Official Police Tow Service's
defense.
(4) At the conclusion of the hearing or within a reasonable time thereafter, not
to exceed ten working days, the Chief Executive Officer, or his or her designee, shall make a
finding as to whether the allegation(s) are "founded" or "unfounded."
(5) Upon a finding that the allegation(s) are "founded," the Chief Executive
Officer, or his or her designee, shall determine the appropriate sanction to be taken against the
offending Official Police Tow Service.
(a) The Chief Executive Officer may extend the suspension of the
offending Official Police Tow Service for a period of time, not to exceed 30 additional calendar
days, or;
(b) The Chief Executive Officer may permanently revoke the
offending Official Police Tow Service's franchise and remove the Official Police Tow Service
from providing service in response to Police Department request; or
(c) The Chief Executive Officer may impose such other sanction as he
or she determines is appropriate in light of the nature of the violation and the relevant
circumstances.
(6) The Chief Executive Officer, or his or her designee shall notify the
offending Official Police Tow Service of his or her finding and/or the sanctions to be imposed, in
person, by registered mail, or by written notice hand-delivered to that Official Police Tow
Service's business office.
(E) Appeals. Any Official Police Tow Service aggrieved by a decision of the Chief
Executive Officer pursuant to this section may appeal the finding of or the sanction imposed by,
the Chief Executive Officer to the City Council. Any such appeal must be filed with the City's
Chief Executive Officer in writing within five business days of the Official Police Tow Service's
receipt of the decision of the Chief Executive Officer.
(1) The City's chief executive officer shall schedule an informal hearing
within ten days of receiving an appeal from the Official Police Tow Service and shall notify the
Official Police Tow Service in writing of such hearing at least five calendar days prior to the
hearing date. The same procedures set forth above for the hearing by the Chief Executive
Officer or his or her designee, shall apply to the hearing before the City Council, if any.
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(2) After hearing the evidence from both sides, the City's chief executive
officer shall issue a written decision within ten days of the hearing. The decision of the City's
chief executive officer is final.
(3) Any person aggrieved by the City administrator's decision may file a writ
of administrative mandamus pursuant to the Cal. Civil Code § 1094.5 within 90 days of the date
the City administrator issues his or her decision.
§ 100.270 LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.
(A) Fines and penalties. Each Official Police Tow Service agrees that an Official
Police Tow Service's failure to meet the average response time for any 30 day period, or failure
to meet the maximum response time for any single request for tow service, will result in damages
being sustained by the City. Such damages are, and will continue to be impracticable and
extremely difficult to determine. Each Official Police Tow Service agrees to pay the City $250
each and every time that Official Police Tow Service fails to meet the average response time
requirements for any 30 calendar day period. Each Official Police Tow Service agrees to pay the
City $100 each and every time that Official Police Tow Service fails to meet the maximum
response time for any single request for tow service by the Police Department. Each Official
Police Tow Service further agrees that said sums are the minimum value of the costs and actual
damages caused by failure of an Official Police Tow Service to complete service within the
allotted time period. Such sum is a liquidated damage and shall not be construed as a penalty.
(B) Hearing. Prior to the imposition of such liquidated damages against a particular
Official Police Tow Service, that Official Police Tow Service shall be entitled to a hearing as
provided herein. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with § 100.260.
Section 2.The Chief Executive Officer or its designee is authorized to take action as may
be necessary to implement this ordinance.
Section 3. The Mayor or presiding officer of the City of Baldwin Park City Council
is hereby authorized to affix his/her signature to this Ordinance signifying its adoption by the
City Council of the City of Baldwin Park.
Section 4. The City Clerk of the City of Baldwin Park shall certify to the adoption of
this Ordinance and cause the same to be posted and/or published as required by law.
Section 5. This Ordinance shall go into effect and be in full force and operation from
and after thirty (30) days from the date of its final passage and adoption.
Section 6. If any chapter, section, subsection, subdivision,paragraph, sentence, clause or
phrase, or portion of this Ordinance, or the application thereof to any person, is for any reason
held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its application
to other persons. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance
and each chapter, section, subsection, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion
thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions of the application thereof to any person, be declared
invalid or unconstitutional.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTE P ON the 7th day of Marc 118
MA i • 10, MAYOR
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss:
CITY OF BALDWIN PARK )
I, Alejandra Avila, City Clerk of the City of Baldwin Park, do hereby certify that the
foregoing ordinance was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a regular
meeting of the City Council on February 21, 2018. That thereafter said Ordinance No. 1407
was duly approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on March 7, 2018 by
the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember: Garcia, Lozano, Pacheco
NOES: Councilmember: Baca, Rubio
ABSENT: Councilmember: None.
ABSTAIN- Councilmember: None. •
Alejandra ila
City Clerk
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