(a) The City is responsible for maintaining clean, safe and functional streets. Residents and visitors are entitled to a safe and well-managed vehicle towing system for non-consensual vehicle tows that affords them a high level of customer service, convenience, courtesy, and professionalism.
(b) A tow company is deemed to conduct tow operations in the City if it has a place of business in the City which performs non-consensual tows, or if it hooks up vehicles for non-consensual tows within the City.
(c) The Detroit Police Department shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this division.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC 7/23/2019, Passed 9/10/2019, Approved 9/11/2019, Published 9/20/2019, Effective 10/1/2019); Amended by Ord. No. 2021-34 (JCC 9/14/2021, Passed 10/12/2021, Approved 10/13/2021, Published 11/17/2021, Effective 10/18/2021).
For purposes of this division, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
Department means the Detroit Police Department.
Hook-up means attaching a motor vehicle to another vehicle fashioned with implements that can be used to tow a vehicle to a storage lot or other location.
Non-consensual tow means the owner, or other person having lawful custody of the vehicle, has not provided affirmative consent to the tow prior to hook-up.
Tow company means any entity or individual who performs wrecker or recovery services for financial gain.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC 7/23/2019, Passed 9/10/2019, Approved 9/11/2019, Published 9/20/2019, Effective 10/1/2019); Amended by Ord. No. 2021-34 (JCC 9/14/2021, Passed 10/12/2021, Approved 10/13/2021, Published 11/17/2021, Effective 10/18/2021).
(a) It shall be unlawful for any manager, operator, or owner of a tow company, or his or her employee, to violate any provision of this division, or to aid and abet another to violate such provision.
(b) Any person who violates this division, or aids and abets another to violate such provision, may be issued a misdemeanor violation for each day that the violation continues.
(c) Any person who is found guilty of violating any provision of this division, or aids and abets another to violate such provision, shall be convicted of a misdemeanor for each violation that is issued and, in the discretion of the court may be fined up to $500.00 and sentenced up to 90 days in jail, or both, for each misdemeanor violation that is issued.
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC 7/23/2019, Passed 9/10/2019, Approved 9/11/2019, Published 9/20/2019, Effective 10/1/2019); Amended by Ord. No. 2021-34 (JCC 9/14/2021, Passed 10/12/2021, Approved 10/13/2021, Published 11/17/2021, Effective 10/18/2021).
Codified by Ord. No. 28-19 (JCC 7/23/2019, Passed 9/10/2019, Approved 9/11/2019, Published 9/20/2019, Effective 10/1/2019); Amended by Ord. No. 2021-34 (JCC 9/14/2021, Passed 10/12/2021, Approved 10/13/2021, Published 11/17/2021, Effective 10/18/2021).