Vehicle inspection.
Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 25-75
in effectSec. 25-75. - Vehicle inspection.
Each wrecker company doing business in the city shall be inspected by the city police department at least once per year, but more often if complaints arise, to ensure compliance with the following provisions:
(1) Equipment necessary for all wreckers:
a. All equipment necessary for the towing vehicle or combination of towing vehicle and towed vehicle, i.e. required lighting, including rear tow lamps or tow bar, must be fully operational, functional and in safe operating condition, and must comply with the applicable requirements of 49 C.F.R. §§ 390—399, of the Federal Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations, as the same currently exist or as they may be amended in the future. Any future amendments of the Federal Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations which result in a conflict with the additional requirements contained in this section shall be resolved in favor of compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations.
b. Certification: All wreckers of the wrecker company shall have an annual DOT (department of transportation) compliant inspection, and each wrecker shall display or carry a current and valid inspection decal or inspection certificate signifying that the wrecker is in safe operating condition. The following mechanical functions and systems shall be in proper working order and each wrecker of the wrecker company shall have the following additional equipment in the vehicle:
1. Wheels: bearings, lugs;
2. Tires: front left and right (no recap) minimum tread depth 5/32; rear left, outside, and all drive tires minimum tread depth 4/32;
3. Brakes: master cylinder; fluid level, leaks; wheel cylinder; brake hose and lines; hydrovac and lines; vacuum or air tanks; parking brake; vacuum or air gauge and buzzer or light; brake pedal fade; pedal pads, if factory equipped; adjustment; brakes;
4. Exhaust system: exhaust manifold; exhaust pipe; muffler; tail pipe;
5. Rear end: springs, shackles and clamps; leaks;
6. Clutch and transmission: adjustment, release;
7. Body: seats securely fastened and in good condition; no broken glass in any window, and no broken or cracked glass in any windshield which obstructs the driver's vision; mirrors, left and right, with no broken or cracked glass which obstructs or limits the driver's vision; wipers, windshield washers; horn; fire extinguisher; markings; driver's and passenger seat belts; flags and flares; sun visor for driver;
8. Steering: steering arm; tie rod-ends and drag-link; front springs, shackles and clamps; sector to frame mounting; steering free play; and
9. Most current edition of the Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guide Book.
c. Each wrecker shall be equipped with factory installed one-ton capacity dual wheels. Dummy wheels are prohibited.
d. Each wrecker shall be equipped with a power winch, winch line, and boom with a factory rated lifting capacity, or a tested capacity, of not less than 8,000 pounds single line capability. At the time of application, the wrecker operator shall provide documentation of lifting capacity from the factory or qualified testing facility.
e. Appropriate equipment shall be attached to each wrecker in order to prevent any vehicle being hauled or towed from being further damaged by coasting, rocking, swinging, or slamming into the wrecker or any part thereof.
f. Each wrecker shall have the following standard equipment: tow bar; safety chains; operational, fully charged 5-B.C. rated fire extinguisher mounted in an easily accessible location; wrecking bars, which must be a minimum length of 36 inches; brooms, which must have a minimum handle length of 30 inches; shovel; axe, which must have a minimum handle length of 30 inches; dolly, which is rated for use on the highway; at least three reflective road warning devices; a minimum of 80 pounds of serviceable oil dry; and a minimum of 75 feet of ⅜ inch diameter or larger steel cable for rollbacks, and 100 feet of ⅜ inch diameter or larger steel cable for conventional wreckers.
g. Yellow emergency lights shall be affixed above the top of the cab of the wrecker and must be visible from every angle, 360 degrees, around the wrecker. The warning lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than 1,500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night. Sirens are prohibited.
h. The name, address, and telephone number of the wrecker operator, and the wrecker number, i.e. truck #1 or other identifying number specific to that wrecker, shall be permanently affixed to and prominently displayed on both sides of the wrecker, using letters and numerals of a contrasting color than the rest of the vehicle that are clearly visible from a distance of 100 feet. The lettering used for the operator name shall be at least four inches tall and the lettering and numerals used for the address, telephone number and wrecker number shall be at least two inches tall.
i. The wrecker company shall not place or imprint on its vehicles, buildings, equipment, clothing, advertisements, or correspondence anything suggesting or implying any official relationship between the wrecker company and the city. Without limitation, the wrecker company shall not use any colors or paint schemes similar to those used by the police department; decals similar in design to department decals; any logo similar to those employed by the city or any of its departments; or any other language or wording which would cause the general public to believe the wrecker is owned or operated by the city.
j. Each wrecker shall be properly equipped with clearance and marker lights and all other equipment as required by law.
k. Each wrecker shall be equipped with warning devices, as the same are required by law applicable to trucks.
l. Each wrecker shall be equipped with dual rear adjustable floodlights with a minimum of 20,000 candlepower each.
m. Use of a hand-held mobile telephone:
1. No driver shall use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a wrecker or vehicle.
2. No motor carrier shall allow or require its drivers to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a wrecker or vehicle.
3. For the purpose of this section only, driving means operating a vehicle or wrecker on a highway, including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays. Driving does not include operating a wrecker or vehicle when the driver has moved the wrecker or vehicle to the side of, or off, a highway and has halted in a location where the wrecker or vehicle can safely remain stationary.
4. Emergency exception: Using a hand-held mobile telephone is permissible by drivers of a CMV when necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials or other emergency services.
n. Each wrecker shall be equipped with disposable bags or other containers to safely contain and properly dispose of any broken glass, injurious substances, oil spills, and other debris, as required by section 25-90 (14) and section 22-81 of this Code.
o. Each wrecker shall be equipped with tarps and ties adequate and serviceable to properly cover and secure any wrecked or damaged vehicle being hauled or towed to prevent materials or debris from flying or falling off while moving.
p. Each wrecker shall be equipped with one pair of bolt cutters with a minimum one-half inch opening.
q. Any wrecker equipped with tinted windshields or side windows shall have light transmission of at least 70 percent of normal visibility, and comply with applicable requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Rules and Regulations.
r. The minimum equipment standards referred to throughout this chapter shall be determined solely by the manufacturer's specifications for the capabilities and capacities of the wreckers and all towing equipment.
s. Each wrecker shall be equipped with only those winches and cranes that have been produced and constructed by a manufacturer of such equipment which carries product liability and which regularly produces winches and cranes. A winch or crane will not be prohibited by this section if the wrecker operator submits to the chief a certification from a reputable testing laboratory, regularly engaged in the testing of such equipment or similar equipment, indicating that the capacity of the winch or crane is not less than what is required in this division of this chapter.
(2) Equipment necessary for large wreckers: In addition to the requirements contained in subsection (1), large wreckers, as defined herein, are required to be equipped with the following additional items and equipment:
a. Air control valve or an electrical break capability with an electrical break control box for the purpose of providing braking capability for the vehicle or trailer being towed or removed;
b. Two chock blocks to prevent rolling or slippage of the wrecker. These chock blocks should have the capability of being secured firmly to the wrecker and should be of a width equal to that of the dual wheels of the wrecker;
c. A minimum of 200 feet of ⅝ inch steel cable on multiple drums, which shall be measured from the end of the bed of the wrecker;
d. Air brakes constructed to lock the rear wheels automatically upon failure and to supply air to disabled vehicles;
e. A minimum total of two operating, fully charged 10-B.C. rated fire extinguishers mounted in easily accessible locations;
f. External air hookups and hoses;
g. At least six reflective road warning devices;
h. A minimum of 160 pounds of serviceable oil dry.
(3) Equipment necessary for roll back wreckers: In addition to the requirements contained in subsection (1), roll back wreckers, as defined herein, are required to be equipped under the following modifications:
a. A one-ton truck with a 19-foot bed, dual wheels, and one power winch with an 8,000 pound capacity;
b. A brake lock device;
c. Two safety tie-down chains at least ten feet in length;
d. The following standard equipment shall be substituted for the requirements of subsection (1)e. above: tow bar; safety chains; operating, fully charged 5-B.C. rated fire extinguisher mounted in an easily accessible location; wrecking bar, which must be a minimum length of 36 inches; brooms, which must have a minimum handle length of 30 inches; shovel; axe, which must have a minimum handle length of 30 inches; at least three reflective road warning devices; a minimum of 80 pounds of serviceable oil dry; and a minimum of 75 feet of ⅜ inch diameter or larger steel cable.
(4) Equipment necessary for repossession wreckers: In addition to the requirements contained in subsection (1), repossession wreckers, as defined herein, are required to be equipped under the following modifications:
a. The following standard equipment shall be substituted for the requirements of subsection (1)f. above: tow bar; safety chains; operating, fully charged 5-B.C. rated fire extinguisher mounted in an easily accessible location; wrecking bars, which must be a minimum length of 36 inches; and at least three reflective road warning devices.
b. The following shall be substituted for the requirements of subsection (1)h. above: The initials of the repossessor business name and USDOT number of the repossessor shall be permanently affixed to and prominently displayed on both sides of the wrecker, using letters and numerals of a contrasting color than the rest of the vehicle that are clearly visible from a distance of 100 feet. The lettering used for the repossessor name shall be at least four inches tall and the lettering and numerals used for the USDOT number shall be at least two inches tall. Additionally, all repossession wreckers shall also be clearly marked as a "recovery vehicle" or "repo wrecker" in lettering of equal size to the repossessor name.
c. Repossession wreckers shall comply with all other requirements as stated in the above subsections.
Following inspection by the city police department, each wrecker shall be issued a decal which shall be displayed in the lower left corner of the windshield. Each decal shall indicate the wrecker permit number and the current calendar year. The fee for each annual inspection and issuance of each annual inspection decal shall be $15.00. In the event a wrecker fails the annual inspection, the fee for any subsequent re-inspection shall be $15.00. If a wrecker is not issued an inspection decal following any city police department inspection or if the decal is not properly displayed on the wrecker for which it was issued, that wrecker is not authorized to do business within the city.
(Ord. No. 25-310, §§ 1, 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_S25-75VEINFetched: 11/6/2026