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Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019) |
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R714. Public Safety, Highway Patrol |
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R714-600. Performance Standards for Tow Truck Motor Carriers |
| R714-600-1. Authority |
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This rule is authorized by Subsection 41-6a-1406(10) which provides that the department shall make rules setting the performance standards for towing companies to be used by the department. |
| R714-600-2. Purpose |
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The purpose of this rule is to establish procedures for a tow truck to be dispatched when a sworn officer requests the removal and towing of a motor vehicle. |
| R714-600-3. Definitions |
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(1) Definitions used in the rule are found in Sections 41-6a-102, 53-10-102, 69-2-2, and 72-9-102. (2) In addition: (a) "department dispatch center" means a dispatch center which is operated or maintained by the department; (b) "department dispatcher" means an employee of a dispatch center operated or maintained by the department whose primary duties are to receive calls for emergency police, fire, and medical services, and to dispatch the appropriate personnel and equipment in response to the calls; (c) "dispatch center" means a facility which acts as a public safety answering point and provides emergency dispatch and communications support to sworn officers; (d) "sworn officer" means a peace officer who is employed by the department; (e) "tow truck" means a motor vehicle constructed, designed, altered, or equipped primarily for the purpose of towing or removing damaged, disabled, abandoned, seized, repossessed or impounded vehicles from highway or other place by means of a crane, hoist, tow bar, tow line, dolly tilt bed, or other similar means of vehicle transfer without its own power or control; (f) "tow truck motor carrier" means any company that provides for-hire, private, salvage, or repossession towing services and includes all of the company's agents, officers, representatives and employees; and (g) "UHP" means the Department of Public Safety, Utah Highway Patrol. |
| R714-600-4. Dispatch of a Tow Truck |
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(1) When a sworn officer determines that a vehicle must be removed from a highway or other place, the sworn officer shall contact the dispatch center which provides service for that area and request that a tow truck motor carrier be contacted so a tow truck can be dispatched. (2) The sworn officer will provide the dispatch center with the location, make, model and license number of the vehicle that is to be removed. (3) If the dispatch center is operated or maintained by the department, the dispatch center shall determine which tow truck motor carrier to contact according to the this rule. (4) Nothing in this rule precludes the owner of a vehicle from contacting a tow truck motor carrier directly to make arrangements for the removal of the vehicle. |
| R714-600-5. The Creation and Maintenance of a Towing Rotation List |
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(1)(a) The UHP may assign a coordinator in each section office to create and maintain a towing rotation list of approved tow truck motor carriers in the area. (b) If a towing rotation list is created, the coordinator shall be responsible for providing a copy of the current towing rotation list to the dispatch center that provides dispatch services for the area. (2)(a) In order to be considered for inclusion on a UHP towing rotation list in a particular area, a tow truck motor carrier shall complete a UHP Towing Rotation Application and Agreement and submit it to the coordinator who is responsible for that area. (b) A tow truck motor carrier shall complete a new UHP Towing Rotation Application and Agreement on or before July 1st of each year. (c) A truck motor carrier may be included on the towing rotation list, if it meets the requirements described in the UHP Towing Rotation Application and Agreement. (3) The towing rotation list will contain the following information on each tow truck motor carrier: (i) the business name and phone number of the tow truck motor carrier; (ii) the names and phone numbers of all tow truck operators; (iii) after-hours contact information for the tow truck motor carrier; and (iv) whether the tow truck motor carrier has the ability to perform any special services. (4) A tow truck motor carrier must notify the coordinator if the tow truck motor carrier is out of service or unavailable so the tow truck motor carrier may be temporarily removed from the towing rotation list. (5)(a) A tow truck motor carrier may be permanently removed from the towing rotation list, after notice and an opportunity to respond to the allegations, if any of the following occur: (i) a tow truck motor carrier fails to comply with any of the requirements found in Title 72, Chapter 9, Part 6, of the Utah Code or R909-19 and R873-22M-17 of the Utah Administrative Code; (ii) a tow truck motor carrier is operating in violation of the law or has engaged in practices which are a violation of law; (iii) a tow truck motor carrier's continued unavailability disrupts the operation of a department dispatch center; (iv) a tow truck motor carrier routinely fails to respond to requests for service in a timely manner; (v) a tow truck motor carrier refuses to retrieve abandoned vehicles; or (vi) a tow truck motor carrier violates any of the terms and conditions contained in the UHP Towing Rotation Application and Agreement. |
| R714-600-6. Dispatch of Tow Truck Motor Carriers by the Department |
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(1)(a) When a sworn officer contacts a department dispatch center and requests that a tow truck motor carrier be dispatched, a department dispatcher will immediately contact a tow truck motor carrier on the towing rotation list provided by the coordinator for that area. (b) Department dispatchers will contact tow truck motor carriers in the order they appear on the towing rotation list. (2) Department dispatchers will provide the tow truck motor carrier with information regarding the nature of the call so the tow truck motor carrier may determine if the tow truck motor carrier is able to handle the call. (3)(a) If a tow truck motor carrier fails to respond when contacted by a department dispatcher or the tow truck motor carrier is unable to respond to the call, the department dispatcher will contact the next tow truck motor carrier on the towing rotation list. (b) A tow truck motor carrier who fails to respond or who is unable to respond to a call, will not be contacted by a department dispatcher until the next time that the tow truck motor carrier's name appears on the towing rotation list. (4)(a) If a department dispatcher contacts a tow truck motor carrier who is available but is not equipped for the specific type of service requested, the department dispatcher will continue to contact tow truck motor carriers on the towing rotation list until a tow truck motor carrier is found who is equipped to handle the request for service. (b) A tow truck motor carrier's inability to provide requested services for lack of equipment, does not affect the tow truck motor carrier's place on the towing rotation list. (5) If a tow truck motor carrier responds to a call from dispatch but tow services are later determined not to be necessary, the tow truck motor carrier will be contacted the next time that tow services are needed. (6) If a tow truck motor carrier responds to a department dispatcher's request for service and arrives at the location specified by the sworn officer, the tow truck motor carrier must provide the requested services unless the tow truck motor carrier is mechanically unable to do so. (7) The performance of tow services that are not at the request of a department dispatcher will not affect the tow truck motor carrier's place on the towing rotation list. (8)(a) Each department dispatch center shall maintain a log of all of the requests for service made to certified tow truck motor carriers. (b) The log of requests for service shall contain the following information: (i) the date and time of the call for service; (ii) the officer requesting service; (iii) the reason for the request; (iv) the description of the vehicle, including the license plate number; (v) the location of the vehicle; (vi) the certified tow truck motor carrier contacted; (vii) whether the tow truck motor carrier responded to the request for service; and (viii) the department dispatcher's initials and any remarks. |