600-10 Towing Flashcards
Heavy duty wrecker
Capable of lifting a minimum of 30,000 pounds
Chassis rated at 5 tons or greater
Large vehicle
Motor vehicle or trailer in excess of 8 feet in height or 22 feet in length
Also includes a coupled vehicle and trailer in excess of 30 feet.
What are the three categories of wrecker driver license
Private property license
Police authorized tow service agreement (PATSA)
SafeClear License
If a driver arrives before a vehicle is hooked up
No charge to driver and they shall be able to drive away
*hooked up means completely ready to go
If vehicle “hooked up” lawfully
Half price (drop fee applies)
*the wrecker driver is required to tell the vehicle owner when drop fee applies
How many towing zones can a contact auto wrecker be registered?
One. And may be utilized under PATSA only in that zone.
What shall officers ensure at all wreckers parked on scene
A) Park as close to the curb s as possible
B) not interfere with the flow of traffic
C) not park within 100 feet from a wrecked or stalled vehicle
No wrecker can touch the scene until police investigation is complete.
Distance to ignite flammable objects at a crash scene
50 feet.
How many wreckers Shall be on scene?
2 more than the number of disabled vehicles to warn oncoming traffic
What Shall be listed on a wrecker slip of a stolen vehicle?
Reportee’s ; name, address, and telephone number
What location Shall go on the wrecker slip for SIEZED VEHICLES?
1200 Travis
Who is responsible for correcting the address on the tow slip?
Officer. Regardless of duty status
What do you write in the VIN field when there is no VIN?
Unavailable
When arresting for DWI
Check “other” and write “DWI -unable to consent” underneath.
How often Shall divisions send wrecker slips?
Weekly to auto dealers detail who shall keep the physical file for at least two years.
*ADD reviews the form annually to make needed changes.
How long does an officer have to enter a tow slip into RMS
1 hour
What information does an officer need in regards to a heavy duty wrecker?
Company name and am estimated time of arrival not to exceed 45 minutes.
If the heavy duty did not arrive, they shall give an explanation and if it’s taking too long another wrecker shall be dispatched and only the new one shall be able to take the vehicle
Who is incharge of a heavy duty wrecker at aTxDot scene?
TxDOT
When an officer needs to urgently remove or add a vehicle to TCIC/NCIC, or the vehicle has LoJack
Contact Records Division’s Staff Review
Contact Records Division Auto Theft Section on their tow line.
Records a division Responsibilities
First attempt to contact complainant by phone. Immediately send a letter if unable to make contact over the phone.
If outside city limits a radio gram Shall be sent to the outside agency through the messaging center in ECD
An officer Shall attempt to do what when towing a stolen vehicle?
*45 minutes to owner to arrive or their towing choice
A) contact complainant
B) advise owner of the location to determine how vehicle will be handled.
C) attempt to lift finger prints
D) remove vehicle as non consent tow if owner cannot be located
Vehicles stolen outside/ recovered inside
Shall NOT be towed to the Vehicle Examination Building (VEB)
Suspected stolen vehicle found on private property
Do a report and note why you think it is stolen.
- do not tow from private property. The private property owner has to do that.
Submerged vehicles
The dive team may have it removed with a heavy duty wrecker.
Unoccupied vehicles with removed, obliterated, changed VINs
Officer Shall have it towed by a city wrecker to Property Divisions Vehicle Impound lot (VIL).
- consult an auto theft supervisor if you do anything outside of the aforementioned action.
Where are burned vehicles towed?
VIL (1300 Dart) by a City wrecker
*make an investigated stolen report if not reported stolen.
“Hold” vehicles
Need division authorization
Shall not be towed to a police private storage lot
Shall be transported by a City wrecker to VIL (1300 Dart)
What vehicle shall be placed on hold to obtain valid information on the owner?
FSRA
How long does an investigative division have to supplement reports to maintain a suspicious vehicle listing?
Every 60 calendar days or sooner
*if not done the Houston Crime Information Center Shall automatically downgrade the listing to ”Canceled Suspicious” after 2 weeks have passed.
Who can give permission to arrest an occupant of a suspicious vehicle?
Primary division
For a vehicle to be classified as wanted
The suspects related to the suspicious vehicle must be listed in an incident report
For a wanted Vehicle with no occupants
The vehicle Shall be kept under surveillance and the appropriate division contacted to determine if the vehicle will be towed or kept under surveillance until an occupant is apprehended
Who to contact when there is no clear directive to tow?
Auto Dealer Detail (ADD)
How long can a trailer be parked at a location when it is not being loaded or unloaded
2 hours.
When can’t commercial vehicles be parked on a city street?
0200-0600
For vehicles left at am expired meter
Tow if left for 5 times the max time limit and has accumulated 5 tickets
Who authorizes the use of a specialized wrecker in a chop shop situation?
Auto theft supervisor- LT or higher
Who can tow vehicles for sale on public or private property
ADD or specifically trained DRT officers
VIL
1300 Dart
The suspension or revocation of wrecker driver licenses shall be handled by:
[600-10. p. 14]
Auto Dealer Detail (ADD)
