§ 6.80.575. Storage facility requirements.

Each site to which vehicles are towed shall comply with the following requirements, and no tow truck operator may take a vehicle to a storage lot which does not meet these standards.

A.

No towing company shall tow a vehicle from private property under orders of one not the owner of the vehicle to a storage lot which is outside the geographic limits of Davidson County. All licensees shall, immediately upon connecting the towing vehicle to a vehicle to be towed from private property under orders of one not the owner of such vehicle, tow the vehicle directly to a storage lot owned or operated by such licensee located within the geographic lines of Davidson County. Such towed vehicle shall not be dropped or left at any other lot or on any other property without the consent of the owner for any period of time. No towed vehicle shall be stored on a public street.

B.

A storage site shall be fenced or enclosed on all sides to a height of not less than six feet and shall be lighted during the hours of darkness to afford distinct visibility to all sides of the facility. Lighting shall be provided at a minimum average maintained foot-candle value of two on a horizontal plane at the finished surface or grade level.

C.

A towed vehicle shall not be stored more than a reasonable walking distance from the area where towing and storage fee payments are received.

D.

The operator shall exercise reasonable care to keep towed vehicle and their contents secure at all times.

E.

Personal property in vehicles must be released in accordance with state law.

F.

Whenever a storage lot is closed or has a gate locked, a conspicuous sign must be posted at the entrance of the storage lot which provides instructions and a local telephone number for obtaining release of a vehicle when the lot is not open. The local telephone number posted shall be answered twenty-four hours a day and someone must be available at the storage lot to release vehicles within a reasonable time after inquiry is made.

G.

Any person operating a wrecker upon the streets Davidson County and maintaining a storage lot shall maintain personnel with authority to accept payment and to release any impounded vehicle, on duty seven days a week from six a.m. until ten p.m. each day, and available within a maximum one-hour period to release or provide access to a vehicle upon the request of the owner, from ten p.m. to six a.m.

H.

There shall be posted at the entrance to the impound lot nearest the impound lot office a sign, at least twenty-four inches by twenty-four inches, painted or printed white with red lettering the towing charge, the storage rate per day, that no storage fee may be charged if the vehicle has been held less than two hours and that these conditions are required by ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. In addition, such sign shall list the two forms of payment accepted and state that no additional fee may be charged for noncash payment.

(Ord. BL2000-247 § 23, 2000)