New Orleans City Code § 162-996 Definitions.
Sec. 162-996. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Accident shall mean a situation where one or more motor vehicles have collided with any motor vehicle or object.
City shall mean the City of New Orleans.
Compulsory liability insurance/security impoundment shall mean the towing and storage of a vehicle in violation of state law requiring proof of insurance coverage to be maintained in a vehicle operated within the state.
Consent tow shall mean the towing of a motor vehicle upon the consent of the vehicle owner.
Heavy-duty tow/vehicle means any vehicle which because of its size, weight or other design characteristics, or due its position off road or submerged in water, would require its transport by towing by a heavy-duty tow truck as defined in sections 162-1020 through 162-1021.
Motor vehicle means every vehicle which is self-propelled, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, but excluding a motorized bicycle. Motor vehicle shall also include a "low-speed vehicle" which is a four-wheeled, electric-powered vehicle with a maximum speed of not less than 20 miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per hour and is equipped with the minimum motor vehicle equipment appropriate for vehicle safety as required in 49 C.F.R. 571.500.
Nonconsensual tow shall mean the towing of a motor vehicle where the vehicle owner has not called a towing service for assistance or is unable or unwilling to do so.
NOPD shall mean the New Orleans Police Department.
NOPD towing allocation list shall mean the list of towing companies authorized to provide tow truck response and storage as maintained by the NOPD towing and recovery section.
Police authorized tow shall mean the nonconsensual towing of a motor vehicle upon authorization of a city police officer from a police scene at which the vehicle owner is not present, is incapable of making or declines to make arrangements for the removal of the vehicle or is in violation of state compulsory liability insurance/security law.
Police scene or scene shall mean a place at which an accident has taken place that is subject to police field investigation, a place at which the city has recovered a stolen vehicle, a place at which a vehicle has been abandoned in a roadway, a place where custodial arrest by police has taken place, or any place at which a vehicle is subject to removal or impoundment pursuant to law by a police officer.
Storage lot shall mean an automobile storage facility situated within the city.
Recovered stolen vehicle shall mean any vehicle which has been previously reported stolen, recovered by a police officer, and no longer has any evidentiary value.
Tow means pull, winch, carry, or otherwise move a vehicle or equipment other than by its own power with the use of a tow truck.
Tow truck means any motor vehicle equipped with a boom or booms, winches, slings, tilt beds, and/or similar equipment designed for the towing and/or recovery of vehicles and other objects which cannot operate under their own power or for some reason must be transported by means of towing.
Towing allocation approval means a letter issued by the NOPD which authorizes a towing company to perform towing and provide for storage of vehicles established by this article.
Towing allocation decal means a sticker issued by the NOPD for each tow truck to be used in the performance of towing allocation list responsibilities which certifies that such truck has been inspected and meets all vehicle, boom and winch, and accessory specifications and requirements as are mandated by law.
Towing service business/towing company means the business by an individual, partnership, corporation, or other entity of providing tow service which may include transportation and storage of a vehicle to a storage lot.
Vehicle owner shall mean the actual owner of the vehicle towed or transported or any driver of the vehicle who reasonably appears to have authority to operate the vehicle.
(M.C.S., Ord. No. 28755, § 1, 8-5-21)