NONCONSENT TOW COMPANY REQUIREMENTS

Fort Worth City Code ch. 34, art. V, div. 2

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 34-181 APPLICABILITY OF DIVISION 2.

§ 34-181 APPLICABILITY OF DIVISION 2. Division 2 shall apply to all towing companies or any person or entity engaged in the tow truck business that performs nonconsent tows within the City of Fort Worth, including any towing company, or any person or entity that performs law enforcement purpose tows for the city. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-182 TOWING COMPANY REQUIRED TO REGISTER; AND INSPECTION FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.

§ 34-182 TOWING COMPANY REQUIRED TO REGISTER; AND INSPECTION FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS. (a) This section applies only to towing companies that perform nonconsent tows in the City of Fort Worth. (b) No towing company shall operate a tow truck used for nonconsent tows within the city limits without first registering with the city. The registration shall expire on September 30 of each year. The registration fee shall be $50 per year. (c) Each registration shall be made in person at the office of the police chief or at such other location that may be designated on a form to be provided by the police department. Such registration shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the towing company, the number and types of tow trucks to be operated, the true owner of the towing company concerned, and a list of property locations within the city that the towing company is authorized by a property owner or agent to perform nonconsent tows. (d) The police chief shall inspect all tow trucks to ensure compliance with all applicable state laws, rules and regulations. The inspection fee for each tow truck is $30. No inspection certificate to operate a tow truck within the city shall be issued to a towing company until every tow truck proposed to be used by that towing company complies with at least the minimum requirements set by applicable state laws, rules and regulations. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-183 MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF NONCONSENT TOWS.

§ 34-183 MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF NONCONSENT TOWS. Nonconsent towed vehicles must be taken to a vehicle storage facility that is: (a) Within one mile of the corporate limits of the City of Fort Worth; and (b) No more than 20 miles from the location from which the vehicle was removed. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018; Ord. 25674-08-2022, § 2, passed 8-23-2022, eff. 9-1-2022)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-184 REPORTS REQUIRED.

§ 34-184 REPORTS REQUIRED. (a) Each towing company performing nonconsent tows of vehicles within the city, will provide a weekly written report to the police department of all vehicles towed as a nonconsent tow from any public roadway or parking facility, during the previous one-week period, which shall include the following information: (1) Make, model and color of the vehicle towed; (2) License number and/or V.I.N. of the vehicle; (3) Location of the origin of the pull; (4) Location of the destination of the pull; (5) The date and time the pull was made; and (6) The name, address and phone number of the party requesting the service. (b) In addition to providing a weekly written report, each towing company towing vehicles within the city will provide the same information telephonically or electronically to the police department immediately upon leaving the scene of any nonconsent tow. Under no circumstances shall notification exceed 45 minutes from the time the tow truck leaves the scene of any nonconsent tow originating within the city. (c) Written reports shall be provided electronically in the manner designated by the police chief. Telephonic notification shall be provided to the telephone number designated by the police chief. Information on where and how to submit electronically or telephonically shall be published on the police department's website and shall be provided to each towing company at the time the towing company completes its annual registration. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-185 REMOVAL OF DEBRIS FROM ACCIDENT SCENE.

§ 34-185 REMOVAL OF DEBRIS FROM ACCIDENT SCENE. Each towing company called to an accident or incident, that provides a towing service, shall completely remove all resulting wreckage and debris from the public roadway before departing from the accident or incident site. Removal of wreckage will not be considered completed by merely sweeping debris to the curbline. All such wreckage shall be removed from the accident or incident site completely. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-186 PROHIBITED AT SCENE UNLESS CALLED.

§ 34-186 PROHIBITED AT SCENE UNLESS CALLED. No person shall drive a tow truck to or near the site of an accident or incident within the city unless such person has been called to the site by the owner or operator of the vehicle, by his or her authorized representative, or by the police department. A towing company whose assistance has been requested by the owner of a disabled or wrecked vehicle, shall notify the police department electronically or telephonically, in the same manner in which required reports are made pursuant to this article, of his or her intention to be present on the scene, prior to proceeding to the site of the disabled or wrecked vehicle. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-187 SOLICITATION.

§ 34-187 SOLICITATION. (a) No person shall solicit in any manner directly or indirectly, on the public roadways of the city, at or near an accident or incident site within the city, any business regarding wrecked or disabled vehicles regardless of whether the solicitation is for the purpose of removing, repairing, wrecking, storing, trading or purchasing such vehicle. (b) The presence of any person engaged in the tow truck business or other businesses for which solicitation is hereby prohibited, either as owner, operator, employee or agent on any public roadway at or near the site of an accident or incident within one hour after the happening of such accident or incident shall be prima facie evidence of a solicitation in violation of this section. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Fort Worth City Code § 34-188 TOWING VEHICLES CONTAINING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AND NOTIFICATION.

§ 34-188 TOWING VEHICLES CONTAINING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AND NOTIFICATION. (a) Towing company must be in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations regarding the transportation of hazardous materials in order to tow a vehicle which contains or is reasonably believed to contain hazardous materials. (b) In the event a towing company seeks to tow a motor vehicle or trailer containing, or reasonably believed to contain, hazardous materials, and the materials have leaked or appear to be leaking, the towing company shall immediately advise the Fort Worth Fire Department of the leakage. The motor vehicle or trailer will not be moved until inspected by the fire department. The fire department will be the sole authority in determining the appropriate precautions to be taken prior to authorizing the motor vehicle or trailer to be moved by the towing company. (Ord. 23222-05-2018, § 1, passed 5-15-2018)

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-59692Fetched: 10/26/2026