- Oklahoma has many laws that govern tow trucks and wrecker operators.no parking tow zone sign image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
The laws governing tow trucks and wrecker businesses vary from state to state, and some have more extensive statutes and rules than others. Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety (ODPS) website offers an 84-page downloadable document called "Wrecker and Towing Services Manual." This document divides the information into two broad categories: wrecker operator requirements and Oklahoma statutes governing abandonment of vehicles, wrecker fees and operator protocol. - Tow truck operators must follow specific guidelines to begin their business.under truck image by Patricia Mesanko from Fotolia.com
A tow truck business must have a license issued by the state of Oklahoma. Requirements for the license include providing the state proof of insurance, vehicle inspection, a phone number, business signage and notification of new employees and new vehicles. Applicants for a tow truck business license pay a $100 application fee and must pass an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation criminal record check. Applicants must also sign an oath that they understand the rules and laws governing wrecker and towing services. Businesses must have a unique trade name that is registered with the Department of Public Safety. Tow truck businesses also have several restrictions on their storage facility, equipment, records and the fees they can charge. Specific information on these requirements can be found in the ODPS manual. - Wrecker operators must know and follow the laws in the ODPS manual.truck image by Goran Bogicevic from Fotolia.com
A wrecker operator has to follow certain laws when operating the tow truck. The operator can't go to a collision scene without being called there by law enforcement or by the owner of a vehicle involved. A tow truck driver may assist at a collision scene but cannot solicit business there. Tow truck drivers can't use a flashing light when traveling to a pickup, but it can be turned on at the scene. The operator must be, according to the ODPS manual, "of good moral character and reputation in his community, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Safety." An operator cannot exceed the vehicle weight rating of the wrecker vehicle when towing. An operator also cannot suspend or abandon services without prior written notice to the ODPS. The ODPS also sets the maximum fees that a wrecker service can charge. The different fees and how to calculate them are explained in the manual, along with a list of reasons why a wrecker license might be suspended or cancelled. - Wrecker operators often work with law enforcement.here comes the law image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
A police officer can declare a vehicle abandoned and ask a towing service to remove it. At that time, the wrecker must notify the ODPS of the removal. The vehicle owner can recover the vehicle after paying all towing and storage fees to the wrecker service. The wrecker service also has a lien on the vehicle in case the owner never claims it, and it can eventually become the wrecker's property. People who have tow trucks for their own use must display a "NOT FOR HIRE" sign on both sides of the truck and cannot tow vehicles for money. Wrecker operators are not allowed to offer gifts of any kind to ODPS officers, and the officers cannot have an interest or part-ownership in a wrecker service. Each wrecker vehicle must display a wrecker license plate.
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