§ 6-470. General order permitting and regulating wrecker businesses towing vehicles at the request of the Gulfport Police Department.

(a)

A general order shall be established and uniformly administered and enforced by the Gulfport Police Department to permit and regulate wrecker businesses towing vehicles at the request of the Gulfport Police Department for call on a rotation basis, and to regulate the storage of and access to such vehicles, and to regulate maximum charges for such services that are fair and reasonable to the owner and the wrecker service operator.

(b)

The general order shall be enforceable by authority of this article only after the general order has been officially approved by the city council and mayor. All subsequent amendments to the general order shall be approved by the city council and mayor prior to taking effect, and the department shall furnish all wrecker companies on the rotation list with copies of said amendments.

(c)

The general order shall specify mandatory requirements for a towing operator to qualify to be placed on the rotation list to provide towing services on call by the Gulfport Police Department, and for each wrecker vehicle to be used by the operator for such service.

(d)

Maximum Rates. The general order shall provide a schedule identified as Exhibit "A" of the general order listing maximum rates that may be charged for towing, storage and related charges for services provided under the general order, and no charges shall be assessed by the operator providing services at the request of the department under the general order in excess of, or not specifically provided by said schedule. The maximum rates provided are determined by the Gulfport Police Department to be consistent with maximum rates ordinarily charged in the City of Gulfport when an individual requests services, and the rate schedule may be amended from time to time by approval of the city council and mayor.

(Ord. No. 2276, § 2, 4-18-01)