19.6 Towing Vehicles
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This is Centreville Police Department Directive 19.6 (Towing Vehicles), issued and revised 10/1/2016, setting procedures for officers to tow vehicles to maintain traffic flow and safeguard vehicles. Officers must contact QADES to request a tow, provide sufficient vehicle information to determine the type of tow truck, and generally use the tow company dispatched by QADES unless exigent circumstances exist or the operator requests a specific business. A CAD incident must be created for every tow recording time, date, location, requesting officer, reason for the tow, and the tow business; officers must notify operators of the tow company and attempt to have dispatch notify owners (notification may be suspended for abandoned vehicles during severe weather with Lieutenant approval). Vehicles that impede traffic, create hazards, are involved in collisions, or have unsafe equipment may be removed; if immediate removal is not necessary, operators may choose the tow business, release the vehicle to a licensed driver, or leave it unattended subject to rules (may be removed after 48 hours on roadways or 24 hours on controlled-access highways) and private-property permission requirements.
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Centreville Police Department Title: Towing Vehicles Directive #: 19.6 Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 10.1.2016 Approved by: Charles M. Rhodes, Jr. Chief of Police A. Purpose To provide officers direction so they may operate on a sound, legal basis when towing vehicles. B. Policy CPD will ensure the free flow of traffic and take steps to safeguard vehicles from damage and theft. C. Procedures 1. Requests for Authorized Towing Businesses by Officers a. When an officer needs a tow truck to remove a vehicle, he will contact the QADES. b. Officers must provide sufficient information regarding the vehicle needing towed to allow the communications personnel to determine the type of tow truck required. c. Unless exigent circumstances exist, an officer will not: (1) request the services of a particular towing business unless the request is made by the operator; or (2) allow any towing business other than the one dispatched by QADES to the tow the vehicle. 2. Records of Towed Vehicles a. Whenever a vehicle is towed, a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) incident will be initiated. b. Communications personnel will enter the time, date, location, requesting officer, reason for the tow and the name of the tow business in the CAD. Page 1 of 3 3. Notification to Owners a. When a vehicle is towed, the officer will contact the operator and notify him of the name and phone number of the towing company. b. The officer should also request that dispatch contact the owner to advise them that their vehicle is being towed and provide the tow company name and phone #. In any event, owner notification remains the responsibility of the officer. c. These notification procedures may be suspended for abandoned vehicles during severe weather emergencies (e.g., snow emergency plan is in effect) with the approval of the Lieutenant. 4. Removal of Vehicles a. Vehicles will be removed from the roadway in the following instances: (1) When a vehicle is impeding the free flow of traffic or creating a traffic hazard, officers will promptly request an authorized tow to remove the vehicle. (2) When a vehicle is involved in a collision and the operator is able to move it from the travel portion of the roadway, the operator will be instructed to move the vehicle and to park it in a safe location. (3) A vehicle operated with unsafe equipment that poses a danger to the public will either be towed or have its defects corrected prior to it being operated on the roadway. b. When there is no necessity for having the vehicle removed immediately, the operator must be given the option of making disposition of the vehicle. (1) The officer will advise the operator that CPD can arrange for an authorized towing business to respond to the scene. (2) If the operator desires to have the vehicle towed, he is permitted to use a towing business of his choosing. (3) The operator may release the vehicle to a licensed driver who is willing to assume full responsibility for the vehicle and all property within. (4) The operator may leave his vehicle unattended subject to the provisions listed below for unattended vehicles. 5. Vehicles Left Unattended Page 2 of 3 a. A vehicle may not be left unattended on public property if it is impeding the free flow of traffic, creating a traffic hazard or is illegally parked. b. A vehicle will not be left on private property unless permission is obtained from the property owner or business representative. c. An operator choosing to leave a vehicle unattended on public property will be advised that it may be removed and stored by the CPD if it becomes a traffic hazard or if it is left unattended for: (1) 48 hours or more on any roadway; (2) 24 hours or more on a controlled access highway; or d. Operators who chose to leave their vehicle unattended will be advised that they are assuming full responsibility for the vehicle and all property within Page 3 of 3