Sec. 55-177. - Equipment required.
(a) It shall be unlawful to tow or move any vehicle or salvage vehicle, within the City and County of Denver, by use of a towing vehicle without the following required equipment.
I. Trucks:
1. A full free floating rear axle.
2. Tires, not less than 700 × 15 in size, with a tread depth of not less than 3/32 of an inch or less than eight (8) ply rated for vehicle with single rear wheels and six (6) ply rated for vehicles with dual rear wheels, on rims secured with not less than eight (8) lug bolts for single rear wheels and not less than five (5) lug bolts for dual rear wheels, all of which lug bolts are required to be present and in good condition at all times.
3. Fender coverings for front and rear wheels.
4. A power driven winch, and crane or hydraulic lift with a capacity of not less than eight thousand (8,000) pounds with comparable cable and hardware free of kinks, frays or other defects that would impair its safe use.
5. A cradle, with tow plate or sling equipped with safety chains of sufficiently heavy construction and maintained in a manner to ensure the safe lifting of towed vehicles.
6. Lights. Each towing vehicle shall be equipped with the following electric lights, maintained in operating order:
a. At least two (2) headlamps, an equal number on each side;
b. Four (4) turn signals; two at the front, two at the rear, equipped with a four-way system;
c. Four (4) clearance lamps, two (2) at each side;
d. On the rear at least two (2) tail lights and two (2) stop lights;
e. One flashing amber warning light with a diameter of not less than five (5) inches mounted either on the highest and most visible point or on top of the cab of each towing vehicle, which will be actuated only at the scene of an accident or while engaged in picking up a disabled vehicle;
f. One spot light behind cab capable of lighting scene of disability and illuminating vehicle being towed;
g. One portable left and right combination stop, turn signal, and tail light capable of being securely attached on the rear of the towed vehicle and operated in conjunction with the stop and tail light on the towing vehicle.
7. Brakes. Every towing vehicle shall be equipped with two (2) separate brake systems:
a. A parking brake system that will hold in the applied position by other than fluid pressure, air pressure or electric energy and is capable of holding the vehicle or combination of vehicles on any grade on which it is operated under any conditions of loading or lifting;
b. A service brake system that is capable of stopping the vehicle and/or combination of vehicles in a distance of forty (40) feet at a speed of twenty (20) miles per hour. The service brake system must be maintained so that there are no fluid or air leaks and so that all brake shoes have at least 3/32 inch of lining or ⅛ of an inch for pads and apply fully and evenly to each brake drum on all wheels of the towing vehicle.
8. Emergency equipment. Every towing vehicle under this part shall be equipped with the following emergency equipment:
a. One (1) hand ax, one (1) shovel, one (1) broom, one (1) wheel tie;
b. One metal first aid kit (ten-unit type) completely equipped at all times and meeting the requirements as prescribed in Federal Specifications 66-K-391(a), 1954;
c. Three (3) red flares (reflector type), three (3) red flags, or three (3) triangular reflectors, three (3) thirty-minute railroad-type fusees.
d. At least one (1) fire extinguisher, two and one-half (2½) pound dry chemical (air pressure CO 2 booster type) or five (5) pound CO 2 type (carbon tetrachloride not permissible).
e. A safety chain or chains whose combined length shall be no less than twelve (12) feet long, comprised of welded links of at least 5/16-inch steel.
f. All public tow truck vehicles having cranes will be required to have dollies on board at all times.
9. Clear and permanent identification visible at all times on both sides of the towing vehicles showing the name under which the public towing service or private towing operator is licensed, the business address and telephone number of the licensee, such identification to be in letters not less than two and one-half (2½) inches in height.
II. Trailers:
1. Brakes on at least one (1) axle, electric or hydraulic 3/32-inch lining or better.
2. Brake, tail and turn lights, marker lights on all four corners.
3. Weight limit on tongue: two thousand (2,000) pounds.
4. At least a two and five-sixteenths-inch ball hitch, pindle hook or fifth-wheel hitch.
5. Clear and permanent markings on both sides to include:
a. Name.
b. Address.
c. Phone number.
d. PUC number.
6. Fenders to cover all wheels.
7. Tandem axle or better.
8. At least four (4) permanent tie downs for the load (one for each corner).
9. A winch, electrical or hydraulic, of eight-thousand-pound capacity.
III. Exemptions:
1. Repossession vehicles.
a. Repossession vehicles will not be required to have the following equipment:
(1) A full free floating rear axle;
(2) Tires not less than 700 × 15 in size;
(3) Flashing amber warning lights mounted on top of the cab or roof;
(4) Stoplight behind cab;
(5) Clear and permanent identification naming the public or private tower.
b. It shall be unlawful for repossession vehicles to tow without the following emergency equipment:
(1) Three (3) red flares (reflector type), three (3) red flags or three (3) triangular reflectors, three (3) thirty-minute railroad-type fusees.
(2) A safety chain or chains whose combined length shall be no less than twelve (12) feet long, comprised of welded links of at least five-sixteenths-inch steel.
2. The equipment accessories and specifications set forth in subdivision (I) hereof shall not be applicable to vehicles designed for the simultaneous carrying, towing or hauling of two (2) or more "salvage vehicles," under Public Utility Commission or ICC authority, as defined in section 55-171(6) of this Code.
(Ord. No. 52-87, § 1, 2-2-87)
