Conduct of wrecker companies and operators on the rotation roster.
Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-90
in effectSec. 25-90. - Conduct of wrecker companies and operators on the rotation roster.
The following conditions shall govern the conduct of wrecker companies and operators on the rotation roster:
(1) Obedience to traffic laws; operator safety. No operator shall speed or violate any other traffic laws or disregard any traffic control devices while answering a call. The provision of wrecker services shall be done in a reasonable and safe manner and no operator shall needlessly congest the scene of a vehicle accident.
(2) Rotation system participation. Authorization to participate in the rotation system shall be considered a personal grant of permission to the wrecker company who made application for the same and shall constitute authorization only to that particular legal entity as it operates a bona fide wrecker service. It shall not be subject to assignment, transfer or lease; neither shall the wrecker company sublet the use of the name under which rotation system participation was requested and neither shall the operator permit the exercise by another in any manner of the rights or privileges granted by authorization for participation in the rotation system. Participation on the rotation roster shall not constitute a property interest. Authorization under this article is void if the business address or location of facilities is changed. Further, any change in ownership due to sale, merger, dissolution, death or any other reason shall result in removal of the wrecker company from the rotation roster and shall necessitate a new application being filed.
(3) Submission of daytime and nighttime telephone numbers. At the time of application, each wrecker company shall furnish the chief with one telephone number to be used for dispatches during the day and one telephone number to be used for dispatches during the night. Any changes in the aforementioned telephone numbers shall be immediately transmitted to the chief. No pagers or answering machines are permitted as call-out numbers.
(4) Twenty-four hour service; hours of availability for vehicle access. Each wrecker company shall maintain and be fully capable of providing wrecker services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Further, each wrecker company shall, at no additional charge, provide access, immediately upon request, to its storage facilities between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to individuals legally entitled or otherwise authorized to view, inspect, access, claim or retrieve personal property or vehicles stored therein.
(5) Availability. One attempt by phone shall be made to reach the wrecker service appearing next on the appropriate roster. The acceptance of an assignment may be made by any authorized representative of the company who can verify an immediate dispatch of the wrecker. If no contact is made or the company is unable to accept the call, that company shall be passed for that rotation of the roster and the next company in line shall be called. A wrecker operator shall not accept a dispatch for wrecker services from the rotation roster unless the operator has a wrecker and the necessary equipment immediately available to perform the requested service.
(6) Use of lights. No wrecker operator shall use yellow emergency lights when in route to a service or wrecker call. The use of yellow emergency lights is authorized only at the scene of an accident or other call for service and when towing a vehicle from the scene. The use of "wig-wag" headlights is prohibited at all times.
(7) Response with own wrecker. The wrecker company shall respond to each dispatch received from the city with its own wrecker and shall not send another wrecker service in response to a rotation roster dispatch. The responding wrecker must display the name of the wrecker company called by the police department. In the event the dispatched wrecker is unable to perform the required services or needs assistance, the police officer has the discretion to cancel that wrecker and/or dispatch another rotation wrecker.
(8) Response while impaired prohibited. No wrecker operator shall respond to a dispatch when he or she has consumed alcohol in any amount or has ingested either prescription or non-prescription drugs that may impair motor skills. No wrecker operator shall respond to a dispatch when he or she is under the influence of any controlled substance.
(9) Restriction for conviction of crimes. No wrecker operator shall be used or employed by any wrecker company on the rotation roster if he or she has any pending criminal charges, or has been convicted within the last five years, of any felonies, or misdemeanors related to his or her capability to provide wrecker services to the public in a safe and responsible manner, including but not limited to, drug and/or alcohol offenses, assault, theft, sex crimes, murder, burglary and/or homicide.
(10) Proficiency. All wrecker operators on the rotation roster shall be proficient and competent in the operation of such wrecker.
(11) Uniform clothing. Operators shall wear clothing consistent with his/her employing wrecker company, i.e. uniform, company logo, etc.
(12) Removal of glass, debris, etc. Operators shall remove all glass, injurious substances, oil spills, and other debris at or near the scene of the vehicle as required by section 22-81 of this Code. No glass, injurious substances, oil spills, and other debris shall be placed inside of the towed vehicle. Any damaged personal items to be placed inside of the towed vehicle will be placed inside of a disposable bag or other container, inside of the vehicle's trunk or floor board, if possible, to prevent additional damage to towed vehicle.
(13) Notice of acquisition of wrecker. Each wrecker company on the rotation roster shall give notice to the chief of any wrecker acquired subsequent to placement on the rotation roster. The police department will inspect the wrecker to determine if it meets all the criteria required by this chapter. No wrecker shall be allowed to perform any rotation roster activity unless properly inspected and decaled in accordance with section 25-89.
(14) Compliance with laws. Every wrecker company must comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
(Ord. No. 25-310, §§ 9—14, 21—26, 4-24-2025)
Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH25TRVE_ARTIIADEN_DIV2VETOIM_S25-90COWRCOOPROROFetched: 11/6/2026