§ 5.15.020 — Definitions

5.15.020 - Definitions.

Approved Driver means that the Attendant or operator has passed the Police Department review for criminal history and driver history screening (California Vehicle Code § 2431). Approved Drivers are authorized to work for more than one official police tow service upon notification to the Police Department of the additional employer(s) and Police Department approval. Attendant or operator means a trained and/or qualified individual responsible for the operation of a tow car, tow truck or vehicle storage facility. City-generated tows mean the towing of vehicles requested by the City to include, but not limited to, the following: tows of vehicles impounded by the City which said vehicles are held for investigation or as evidence in a criminal case; emergency tows of vehicles involved in accidents, and/or stalled vehicles obstructing traffic, and/or vehicles illegally parked, and/or tows of vehicles whose driver is incapacitated or physically unable to drive said vehicle, and/or tows of vehicles whose driver has been arrested and/or detained and cannot drive the vehicles, and/or tows of vehicles under the mandatory 30-day impound (i.e., California Vehicle Code § 14602.6). Complaint means a documented allegation against an official police tow service which will be investigated. The types of complaints include, but are not limited to, allegations of discourteous service; unethical business practices; unsafe or improper handling of impounded, stored or evidence vehicles; overcharging for services; failure to meet maximum response times; unsafe towing equipment; violations of State or Federal Laws; violations of City Ordinances or of Municipal Codes; deficient facility security; deficient facility storage conditions; failure to perform according to, or to comply with any Towing Agreement or Contract; failure to keep required records; use of an unapproved driver; or failure to maintain insurance policies or policy endorsements. Contract Administrator shall be an employee of the Riverside Police Department designated by the Chief of Police to administer official police tow service contracts. Official police tow service means a towing company having a contractual relationship with the City of Riverside to provide towing services to the Police Department. An official police tow service shall be used by the Police Department for any police emergency situation where a tow truck is required. Passing is defined as refusing, for any reason, any tow assignment or call for service from the City or from the Riverside Police Department. Response Time is defined as the elapsed time between the relaying of the tow service request from the Police Department dispatch to the Official police tow service and arrival of the tow vehicle on the scene. Service Calls mean other services provided by the official police tow service, including, but not limited to, the unlocking of vehicles, battery service, and tire changes. State of California Vehicle Report or Vehicle Report (also designated as form CHP 180) means a written authorization by a Police Officer or other authorized employee of the City of Riverside. It may also include a Vehicle Impound Report and/or an Electronic Impound Report. Tow Board means a board which shall consist of the Traffic Bureau Commander or his or her designee, and two additional Police Sergeants, excluding the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant, each of whom shall be designated by the Chief of Police. The Tow Board shall enforce the California Vehicle Code (CVC), Riverside Municipal Code (RMC), the Official Police Tow Service written agreement with the Riverside Police Department, and regulations as they apply to the Official Police Tow Service. The Tow Board shall hear evidence from all parties and make determinations and enforce corrective actions, up to but not including cancellation of the Official Police Tow Service written agreement (except in instances when the official police tow service fails to appear at the Tow Board hearing, in which case the Tow Board may cause the official police tow service written agreement to be cancelled), regarding complaints of misconduct, contractual violations, and violations of law concerning the Official Police Tow Service. Upon the conclusion of the Tow Board hearing at which the official police tow service duly appears, the Tow Board may make a recommendation to the City Manager to cancel the Official Police Tow Service written agreement and to the Police Chief to suspend the Official Police Tow Service written agreement. Tow car or tow truck means a truck as defined in Section 615 of the California Vehicle Code, and shall also include slide back carriers and wheel lift vehicles. ("A motor vehicle which has been altered or designed and equipped for and primarily used in the business of transporting vehicles by means of a crane, hoist, tow bar, tow line, or dolly or is otherwise primarily used to render assistance to other vehicles. A 'roll-back carrier' designed to carry up to two vehicles is also a tow truck. A trailer for hire that is being used to transport a vehicle is also a tow truck. 'Tow Truck' does not include an automobile dismantler's tow vehicle or a repossessor's tow vehicle.") Tow Coordinator means the individual designated by the Police Chief of the City of Riverside or his or her designee to manage tasks including, but not limited to, contacting and receiving contacts from the official police tow service, helping facilitate City-generated tows and other Service Calls, approving of the official police tow service's subcontractors if the official police tow service makes changes after commencement of the official police tow service written agreement, administering background checks, drafting and sending billing advices to the City of Riverside Finance Department, and ensuring the official police tow service complies with the official police tow service written agreement, and federal, state, and local law. Vehicle Release means the written authorization from a Police Department employee to release a towed vehicle; all such authorizations must be in writing, and verbal authorizations shall not be permitted.

(Ord. 7757, § 79, 2026; Ord. 7732, § 1, 2025; Ord. 7555 § 1(Exh. A), 2021)