§ 6.80.545. Service zones.

In order to provide for the immediate removal of those vehicles interrupting the proper and orderly flow of traffic and thereby constituting an emergency situation as declared in Section 6.80.510, the commission is authorized and directed to divide the geographical jurisdictional territory of the metropolitan government into zones for emergency wrecker service, which zones shall be established in a manner which best serves the traffic and safety needs of the community and as near as possible divides the emergency wrecker business equitably among those persons licensed to provide emergency wrecker service. To each zone the commission shall assign at least one licensee.

A.

Present Zones Established. The emergency wrecker service zones presently established shall be the first emergency wrecker service zones authorized by this chapter and shall continue as emergency wrecker service zones with those licensees presently assigned to each zone continuing in the zones to which they are now assigned.

B.

Method of Altering Zones.

1.

The commission shall require all licensees to report all calls which they make to the commission, giving the date, the time, the name of the owner of the vehicle transported, type of vehicle, distance towed and fee charged and the license number. Once each year the commission shall review the efficiency and suitability of the emergency wrecker service zones which have been established and shall by regulations make such changes as the traffic control in the area of the metropolitan government, the welfare of the public and the safety of the motoring public shall require. Such changes shall be made only after a public hearing to occur at a time and place established by the commission and due notice provided prior to the hearing.

2.

The commission on its own motion or on the petition of the chief of police of the metropolitan government or any licensee may change the established emergency wrecker service zones or the licensees assigned to such zones. However, before making any such change, the commission shall hold one public hearing a year on such petitions after having published notice, as herein required, and shall keep a record of the proceedings of such hearing; and, within thirty days after the date of such hearing, the commission shall render its decision on the petition or the petition shall be considered denied. No such hearing shall be held on a petition for a change in zones or licensees without giving due notice of the time and place of such hearing to all licensees who may be affected by such change.

C.

Response Time. Zone wrecker companies must respond to calls within their zones within thirty minutes when traffic and weather conditions are normal. Excessive response time in normal conditions may result in a review of their zone privileges.

D.

Transfer of Zone Assignments.

1.

No licensee designated by the commission to provide emergency wrecker service within an assigned emergency wrecker service zone shall sell, assign, mortgage, bequeath, or otherwise transfer the right to service such assigned zone without commission approval following a public hearing as required in subsection (D)(2) of this section.

2.

Prior to the transfer of any zone assignment, the commission shall hold a public hearing for the request. The commission shall establish the time and date for the public hearing and shall provide due notice prior to the hearing, giving the time and place of such hearing. A nonrefundable fee of two hundred fifty dollars will be charged for each transfer request by any applicant assuming ownership of a wrecker company which already holds a zone assignment. Other applicants for the zone assignment will be charged a nonrefundable fee of two hundred fifty dollars.

(Ord. BL2011-870 §§ 2, 3, 2011; Ord. BL2000-247 § 20, 2000; Ord. 96-612 § 1 (part), 1996)