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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 80-10 ORDINANCE NO.nl/ ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 26 , SECTION 26-40 (f) TO INCREASE WRECKER CHARGES IN IMPOUNDMENT SITUATIONS; PROVIDING FOR WRITTEN NOTIFI- CATION OF MAXIMUM WRECKER CHARGES IN IMPOUNDMENT SITUATIONS; REGULATING WHEN STORAGE CHARGES SHALL BE BEGIN; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL; AND PROVIDING A PENALTY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT: Section 1. THAT Chapter 26, Section 26-40 (f) be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 26-40 (f) - Any wrecker removing a vehicle from a street or highway pursuant to the provisions of this section must make the vehicle available to the owner or operator on a twenty-four hour basis. A wrecker company shall present a written bill for wrecker services to each person when the vehicle is retrieved by the owner or operator. The bill for wrecker services shall contain, in bold type or capital letters, a statement in substantially the following form: MAXIMUM CHARGES 1. TOWING - $25. 00 2. STORAGE (DAILY) - 4 . 00 3. DOLLY - 15. 00 4. CALL OUT AFTER HOURS - 7 . 50 CHARGES FOR TOWING AND IMPOUNDMENT IN EXCESS OF STATED MAXIMUMS VIOLATES THE LAW AND MAY RESULT IN A FINE OF UP TO $200. 00. REPORT VIOLATIONS TO THE POLICE. A wrecker company may charge not to exceed $25. 00 for such towing as provided in this section and a storage charge not to exceed $4. 00 per twenty-four hours of storage or a fraction thereof. Storage charges shall not begin to accrue until the vehicle has been upon the premises of the wrecker company for twenty-four hours. Wrecker companies may charge not to exceed $7. 50 for releasing a vehicle to its owner or operator any time it is necessary to release the vehicle other than during normal working hours. This $7. 50 charge may be collected by wrecker companies only when such vehicle is release within one- hour of the request by the owner or operator. When the owner or operator does not appear within the specified one-hour time limit to reclaim the vehicle, the wrecker company may charge an additional $7 . 50 call out fee when the vehicle is reclaimed. The $25. 00 towing charge applies to automobiles only, and does not apply to vehicles requiring a heavy duty wrecker. When it is necessary to use a dolly to tow a vehicle, an additional charge of $15. 00 is authorized. A wrecker company may charge up to $10. 00 if a vehicle is releasedi, to the owner or operator after a vehicle is actually attached to the wrecker, but before the vehicle is moved. Section 2. That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or the application of same to a particular set of persons or circumstances, should for any reason be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance, and to such end the various portions and provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable. Section 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are repealed to the extent of the conflict only. Section 4 . Any person who violates any provision of this ordinance shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in Section 1-8 of the Code of Ordinances of Beaumont, Texas. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this the day of 1980. Mayor - 2 -