§ 18-19. Regulations.

(a)

The county communications center shall be the sole dispatching agent for wrecker service originated by those agencies covered by this article. The term "originating agencies" includes all county departments and employees thereof including full-time, part-time or volunteers performing as employees.

(b)

The county communications center shall establish and maintain a card file listing all registered and authorized wrecker services in the county.

(c)

Assignments of wreckers to accidents or other towing situations shall be handled by the following system, to wit:

(1)

"O" Owner's preference will be used if the driver/owner of the vehicle has a preference for a particular wrecker service. The requesting officer will notify the county communications center of the driver/owner's preference, and the radio operator at said center will notify the requested wrecker service. The card will be properly marked "O" but will not be moved to the back of the file.

(2)

"R" Rotation will be used if the driver/owner express no preference and if there is no emergency involved. The requesting officer will notify the county communications center to use "Rotation" and the next wrecker service in line will be called. The card will be properly marked "R" and moved to the back of the file.

(3)

"E" Emergency will be used in cases where traffic is blocked at a main artery or in situations where a crushed or multi-vehicle collision must be untangled to save a life. The requesting officer will contact the county communications center which will notify the wrecker service next is line on the list and specify that an emergency exists. If such wrecker service cannot respond immediately, then such wrecker service shall so notify the radio operator and the operator shall contact the next available wrecker service. If the radio operator cannot reach the wrecker service, then said radio operator shall be at liberty to locate the most readily available wrecker service. If the initial wrecker service is unable to respond to the emergency and a subsequent wrecker service is notified, the responding wrecker service card will be properly marked "E" but will not be moved to the back of the file.

(4)

"NA" Not available will be used if a wrecker service is not available for any reason. The card will be marked "NA" and moved to the back of the file.

(d)

It shall be the responsibility of the radio operator at the county communications center to mark each card properly and record all necessary information that is required. Upon each wrecker call the radio operator shall record the following information, to wit:

(1)

Time call was received;

(2)

Name of person requesting service;

(3)

Time service requested:

(4)

Wrecker service response; and

(5)

Comments, if any.

(e)

Registered and authorized wrecker companies. Any company requesting in writing to be placed in the card file system as a registered and authorized wrecker service, shall be placed in the system at the end of the rotation at the time of the receipt of the written request by the county communications center. However, the company must present proof of general liability insurance coverage for wrecker service in an amount no less than $1,000,000.00 and a current business license. The county communications center may request proof of continued coverage or current business license at any time from any company providing wrecker services in the county.

(f)

The county communications center shall maintain a list of wrecker companies capable of towing regular sized passenger vehicles including light passenger trucks, and a list of wrecker companies capable of towing large trucks as a heavy wrecker service. The maximum number of authorized wrecker companies is set at four for each list. Nothing herein shall prohibit a wrecker service from serving on both lists.

(g)

The board of commissioners shall have final approval of all requests before authorization shall be given by the county communications center.

(h)

The county board of commissioners will review the list of wrecker service providers and their performance every three years and will consider additions and deletions.

(Code 1998, § 9-101; Ord. of 12-12-2001, § 9-101; Amend. of 2-13-2018 )