Procedure for action against official police tow service.
Riverside Municipal Code § 5.15.145
in effect5.15.145 - Procedure for action against official police tow service.
A. Complaints and/or allegations of violations of this Code, or the official police tow service contract, against the official police tow service shall be reviewed by the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant, or designee. A copy of the complaint and a letter requesting a response within ten business days of the date of mailing shall be sent to the affected official police tow service at the address provided in the official police tow service written agreement, either through certified mail, hand delivery, or posting to the address's front door. (No notice shall be sent or delivered if it is determined that notification will impede or interfere with law enforcement investigations.)
B. The official police tow service may respond to the complaint, in writing and to the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant or designee, within ten business days of the date of mailing of the letter requesting a response. Failure to respond within the ten business days will result in the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant or designee, making a determination on the complaint based on the information available.
C. The Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant or designee will consider all the evidence available and assign a recommended disposition to the complaint. The disposition categories are:
1. Unfounded: Incident did not occur or did occur but was lawful and within the terms of this Agreement.
2. Inconclusive: Unable to determine if the incident did or did not occur, or unable to determine if the official police tow service or its employee(s) are responsible.
3. Founded: Incident occurred and was contrary to this official police tow service agreement, City Ordinances, Municipal Codes, State Laws, or Federal Laws.
D. Within ten business days upon assigning a recommended disposition to the complaint, the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant, or designee, shall mail written notice to the official police tow service and complainant the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant's recommended disposition of the complaint and any recommended disciplinary action to be taken against the towing company.
E. If the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant or designee determines a complaint, violation of this Agreement, or violation of this Code to be founded, the official police tow service may dispute said finding by filing an appeal with the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant or designee, in writing, within ten business days of the mailing of the recommended disposition as set forth in section 5.15.145D. in order to request a Tow Board hearing. The appeal shall clearly state the applicable basis for the appeal. If an appeal is timely filed, the official police tow service will be provided with written notice of the Tow Board hearing date, time, and location at least ten business days before the hearing date.
F. At the Tow Board hearing, the Traffic Bureau Administrative Sergeant or designee will present the facts and a recommendation for disposition and action to be taken against the official police tow service, up to and including suspension and/or termination, taking into consideration the number of prior violations/complaints and the egregiousness of each within the current term and all previous terms of the official police tow service written agreement. The official police tow service will be provided the opportunity to respond to the allegations and to present information relevant to the official police tow service's defense.
G. The Tow Board will review the facts, any evidence presented, and the recommendations. The Tow Board will either concur with the recommended disposition and/or discipline, or determine another course of action.
H. If the official police tow service fails to appear at the Tow Board hearing, then the Tow Board's decision, including the decision to suspend or cancel the official police tow service written agreement, shall be final, and official police tow service shall be deemed to have waived its right to appeal the Tow Board's decision.
I. If the Tow Board arrives at a decision to take action or a recommendation against the official police tow service, the official police tow service shall be notified in writing after the hearing. If the official police tow service appeared at the Tow Board hearing, the Tow Board's decisions, except for suspension or recommendation of cancellation of the official police tow service written agreement, are final.
J. If the official police tow service appeared at the Tow Board hearing, and the Tow Board arrives at a decision to suspend the agreement with the Official Police Tow Service, the decision will be forwarded as a recommendation to the Police Chief, or his or her designee.
1. If the Police Chief concurs with the decision to suspend an official police tow service agreement, the official police tow service will be notified in writing of the impending disciplinary action and the right to appeal to the Police Chief or his or her designee.
K. If the official police tow service appeared at the Tow Board hearing, and the Tow Board arrives at a decision to cancel the official police tow service agreement, the decision will be forwarded as a recommendation to the City Manager.
1. If the City Manager concurs with the decision to cancel an official police tow service agreement, the official police tow service will be notified in writing of the impending disciplinary action and the right to appeal to the City Manager or his or her designee.
L. If the official police tow service exercises the right to appeal set forth under sections 5.15.145 J. and K., a request for an appeal hearing must be made in writing to the either the Police Chief to appeal a recommendation of suspension, or the City Manager to appeal a recommendation of cancellation, within five business days after the mailing date on which the City Manager or Chief of Police gives notification to suspend or cancel towing services.
1. Within ten business days upon receiving a request for an appeal regarding a suspension or termination, the City Manager or Police Chief, as applicable, will schedule a hearing date and mail notice of the date, time, and location of the hearing to the official police tow service. The scope of the appeal hearing pursuant to this Section shall be limited to those issues raised by official police tow service in the written appeal. The official police tow service will be given written notice at least ten business days before the hearing date. The hearing may take place at an earlier date, if all parties agree. Within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the appeal hearing, the City Manager or his or her designee, or the Police Chief or his or her designee, as applicable, shall make a finding as to any disciplinary action to be taken against official police tow service and notify official police tow service in writing of his or her finding. All findings of the City Manager or Police Chief, or their designees, as applicable, are final and effective on the date of mailing the finding(s) to the official police tow service.
2. If the official police tow service fails to timely appeal or fails to appear at the scheduled appeal hearing the Police Chief or City Manager's decision, as applicable, shall be final, and official police tow service shall be deemed to have waived its right to further appeal.
(Ord. 7757, § 82, 2026; Ord. 7732, § 8, 2025; Ord. 7555 § 1(Exh. A), 2021)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT5BU_CH5.15OFPOTOSE_5.15.145PRACAGOFPOTOSEFetched: 11/1/2026