Determination of official police tow service providing service.
Riverside Municipal Code § 5.15.130
in effect5.15.130 - Determination of official police tow service providing service.
A. Official police tow services shall be placed on a "rotation list" to be determined by the Police Department. The rotation list shall be used whenever a driver or owner of a disabled vehicle is unable to specify a particular garage or tow service, or whenever a Police Department employee directs a vehicle to be stored or evidence-stored, and the driver or owner is not present or is not consulted.
B. Official police tow services shall be called, in turn, in response to a Police Department request, and, when in turn, shall have exclusive right to provide service as follows:
1. Official police tow services shall have preference to tow all vehicles from a specific scene, provided that official police tow service responds with all equipment needed to accomplish the tows within the response time specified herein.
C. Whenever official tow service cannot respond with all equipment needed to accomplish all tows at a specific scene within the response time specified herein, the next company on the rotation list shall be called to provide service to the remaining vehicle(s).
D. Whenever any official police tow service cannot, for any reason, respond with any equipment needed to accomplish the requested service within the response time specified herein, the official police tow service shall be passed over and the next company on the rotation list will be called. The official police tow service shall become eligible to provide service again only in its next turn in rotation.
E. Exception: whenever the driver or owner of a disabled vehicle specifies a particular club, association or tow service be called to provide service, such calls shall not constitute a "rotation" call.
F. Exception: whenever a Police Department employee determines that an emergency exists because official police tow service is unable, for any reason, to provide adequate tow service, the Police Department employee shall have the right to have such duties performed by any other means available.
G. For purpose of determining response, the City shall be divided into geographical service areas, as determined by the Police Department. The City reserves the right to determine the number of and the boundaries of the service areas.
(Ord. 7732, § 6, 2025; Ord. 7555 § 1(Exh. A), 2021)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT5BU_CH5.15OFPOTOSE_5.15.130DEOFPOTOSEPRSEFetched: 11/1/2026