Emergency wrecker service and wrecker service requirements and records.
Memphis Code of Ordinances § 6-88-10
in effectSec. 6-88-10. - Emergency wrecker service and wrecker service requirements and records.
A. Emergency wrecker service. In order to regulate, facilitate and provide for the proper and orderly flow of traffic upon the streets, alleys, roads, highways, and thoroughfares within the city, including the regulation and control of parking and to promote public safety, the following acts and circumstances shall be deemed an emergency situation which shall require the immediate removal of a vehicle from the streets, alleys, roads, highways, and thoroughfares within the city limits:
1. When a vehicle is parked, stopped or standing in violation of any regulation or ordinance of the city government.
2. When a vehicle is parked, stopped or standing so as to obstruct the orderly flow of traffic.
3. When a vehicle is disabled by an accident and constitutes an obstruction of traffic, and its immediate removal or storage for safekeeping is necessary in the interest of public safety and protection of property.
B. 1.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, for each vehicle towed by a wrecker service, the licensee shall retain at the wrecker owner's principal place of business all documents related to the towing of the vehicle along with any records required to be maintained pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, towing agreements, written authorizations for removal, and wrecker slips or tickets.
2. The wrecker owner shall make all towing records available for inspection by the permits office upon request. If a wrecker owner fails to fulfill a permits office request to inspect towing records within three business days of the request, the owner's wrecker service license is automatically suspended until compliance by the wrecker owner.
C. Records location. The records required by this section shall be maintained and available at the permits office during business hours at the location where the vehicle is stored until the vehicle is recovered. Further, all wrecker services, public and private, which tow impounded vehicles, shall register with the permits office and city impound lot the current telephone number of the person responsible for releasing vehicles on their behalf.
D. A person desiring to engage in a wrecker service shall register with the permits office a trade name that clearly differentiates the person's company from all other companies engaging in vehicle tow services and shall use no other trade name in conducting vehicle tow services.
E. Private property tows. All private property tows must be reported to the city police department prior to the vehicle being towed. All private property tows must be in compliance with T.C.A. § 55-5-122.
F. Every wrecker company or towing operator doing business within the corporate city limits of the City of Memphis shall publish its rates in such a place as to be in full view of anyone wishing to inspect same and/or be communicated to the owner of the vehicle, or party seeking the service, prior to services being rendered.
(Ord. No. 5133, § 1(part), 4-18-2006; Ord. No. 5414, § 1(41-10), 11-1-2011; Ord. No. 5818, § 1, 3-22-2022)
Source: City of Memphis, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/memphis/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT6BULIRE_CH6-88WRTOOP_ART1INGE_S6-88-10EMWRSEWRSEREREFetched: 10/28/2026