OPERATORS' AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Kansas City Code ch. 76, art. III, div. 3

in effect

Kansas City Code § 76-341 Vehicles generally.

Sec. 76-341. - Vehicles generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or allow or cause to be operated any tow vehicle, either for a fee or as a part of any auto salvage, auto repair or junk business within the city, unless said vehicle has a current, approved department of transportation (DOT) inspection certificate and unless the corresponding wrecker or tow service business has obtained the required permit(s) or license(s) from the county or counties where the business is physically located and in which it conducts more than 50 percent of its wrecker or tow service business activities. (Ord. No. 250367, § 2, 5-1-25)

Kansas City Code § 76-342 Operator's certificate required.

Sec. 76-342. - Operator's certificate required. It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a tow business owner, to report for and make a city tow or emergent tow unless the operator of the vehicle shall have in their possession an operator's certificate issued under the provisions of this code. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-343 Requirements for tow vehicle operators.

Sec. 76-343. - Requirements for tow vehicle operators. (a) Any person who is to report for and make a city tow or emergent tow within the city shall: (1) Be 18 years of age or older; and (2) Be a person of good moral character and not convicted within ten years preceding the date of application for an operator's certificate or for the renewal of an operator's certificate or be on parole or a fugitive from justice for any federal, state or municipal offense involving auto theft or extortion involving an automobile; and (3) Have a current commercial driver's license issued by the state pursuant to the licensing requirements of RSMo ch. 302 or have a comparable commercial driver's license that is current and has been issued by another state. (b) The tow vehicle owner shall provide proof to the director that the persons who will be operating the tow vehicle(s) possess a current commercial driver's license as required under this section. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-344 Qualifications of tow vehicle operator.

Sec. 76-344. - Qualifications of tow vehicle operator. Each applicant for an operator's certificate shall undergo an investigation to determine if a certificate will be issued. An operator's certificate shall not be issued to any person who: (1) Made intentional misstatements or misleading statements of fact in the application; (2) Within five years of the date of application had an operator's certificate revoked; (3) Within three years of the date of application has been found guilty of, pleaded guilty to, pleaded nolo contendere to or been convicted of a violation of sections 70-273, 70-274 and 76-292; (4) Within two years of the date of application had an operator's certificate suspended. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-345 Application for operator's certificate.

Sec. 76-345. - Application for operator's certificate. (a) Filing. Every person desiring to report for and make a city or emergent tow within the city shall file with the director a written application for an operator's certificate. (b) Application form. The application for an operator's certificate shall be made upon a printed form to be provided by the director and shall request not less than the information specified in section 76-343 and section 76-344 and such other information as may be deemed proper by the director. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-346 Criminal background investigation.

Sec. 76-346. - Criminal background investigation. After a complete and fully executed application for an operator's certificate has been filed with the director, the director shall cause the application to be investigated. The criminal background investigation shall include a review of all criminal records available including federal, all states and the records of all counties in the state. The criminal background investigation shall also include an investigation of the applicant's background of everything listed under sections 76-343 and 76-344 of this division. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-347 Fee.

Sec. 76-347. - Fee. The operator's certificate shall not be issued or renewed until the fee for such certificate shall have been paid. A non-refundable fee will be assessed to the applicant to defray the cost of the background investigation and the application process. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-348 Granting or denial; appeals.

Sec. 76-348. - Granting or denial; appeals. (a) After completing the investigation, the director shall determine whether an operator's certificate shall be granted to the applicant. Such certificate shall bear the genuine signature of the applicant. (b) The director's grant or denial of an application for an operator's certificate or the renewal thereof shall be based on information provided in the application as well as any report submitted by an investigator, law enforcement or from the results of the background investigation. In addition to the qualifications set forth in section 76-343 and section 76-344 the director shall consider any cause that may exist for suspension or revocation under section 76-402 in the determination of the renewal of an operator's certificate. Within ten days after issuance of notice by the director to deny such application, the applicant may submit a written request for a hearing, which shall be held in accordance with section 76-403. Appeal of the director's decision following a hearing shall be affected pursuant to section 76-316. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-349 Expiration.

Sec. 76-349. - Expiration. All operators' certificates shall be valid for three years from the date of issuance. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-350 Renewal.

Sec. 76-350. - Renewal. An operator's certificate may be renewed by the director upon a written application on a form provided by the director. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-351 Certificate.

Sec. 76-351. - Certificate. An appropriate certificate shall be furnished to each tow vehicle operator by the director, showing their certificate number and the year for which the certificate is issued. Every tow vehicle operator, while on duty as such, shall have the certificate in their possession at all times and present it upon request. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-352 Submitting false information.

Sec. 76-352. - Submitting false information. Any false statement or misrepresentation of a material fact, made by an applicant for the purpose of securing an operator's certificate, or any renewal thereof, shall be deemed good and sufficient cause for refusal to grant, or, if granted, for revocation of a certificate. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Kansas City Code § 76-353 Compliance with applicable laws.

Sec. 76-353. - Compliance with applicable laws. Every holder of an operator's certificate issued under this code shall comply with all city, state and federal laws. Failure to do so will justify suspension or revocation of the certificate by the director. (Ord. No. 120271, § 1, 3-29-12; Ord. No. 180606, § 1, 12-20-18)

Source: City of Kansas City, Missouri, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Zoning and Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mo/kansas_city/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORKAMIVOII_CH76VEHI_ARTIIITOVE_DIV3OPEQREQUFetched: 10/28/2026