§ 10.54.040. License requirements; application and annual license renewal.

A.

An application for a municipal tow operator license shall be made to the municipal clerk on a form approved by the municipal clerk and the applicant shall provide all required information including the following items and attachments at the time the application is submitted:

1.

The name, mailing and physical addresses, and telephone numbers of the applicant, who shall be the owner and licensee of the business on the municipal license.

2.

The name of the business to be licensed; the physical address of the business; and the telephone number for the tow operator.

3.

A copy of the applicant's state business license, current for the tow operator license application period, and which shall reflect the same name and business identity as shown in the tow operator license application.

4.

Licensing requirements of this chapter include insurance. One or more current certificates of insurance, which provide proof the applicant and applicant's business are licensed, bonded and insured with insurance coverage meeting or exceeding the following minimum insurance requirements. It is the responsibility of the licensed tow operator to notify the municipal clerk within ten business days of receipt of a notice of cancellation for any insurance policy required by this section, and failure to give required timely notice is a violation of the licensing requirements of this chapter.

a.

Employers Liability insurance in an amount not less than $500,000.00, and Worker's Compensation insurance as required by state law.

b.

On-hook insurance coverage is required for each tow vehicle owned and used by the tow operator. The required limits of coverage are:

Tow vehicle weight	Coverage limit
0—20,000 lbs	$50,000.00
20,001—45,000 lbs	$100,000.00
In excess of 45,000 lbs	$250,000.00

 

Tow tractor weight	Coverage limit
Tow tractor 0—45,000 lbs	$100,000.00
Tow tractor in excess of 45,000 lbs	$250,000

 

c.

Automobile liability insurance in coverage amounts not less than $100,000.00 per person/$300,000.00 per accident bodily injury/$50,000.00 property damage with matching uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage or $500,000.00 combined single limits (CSL) with matching uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

d.

Tow operators operating a vehicle storage or impound yard have additional insurance requirements:

i.

Commercial general liability insurance required for each storage or impound yard location in limits of liability not less than $250,000.00 per occurrence with a $500,000.00 annual aggregate; and

ii.

Garage keeper's comprehensive and collision coverage for each storage or impound yard location based on the number and values of vehicles the operator has on the lot at any given time.

5.

A copy of the vehicle registration for each towing vehicle to be operated under the tow operator license.

6.

A copy of the towing vehicle inspection report current under section 10.54.080 for each towing vehicle to be operated under a tow operator license.

7.

A legible copy or picture of the tow operator's business office signage required in section 10.54.090 and chapter 9.54. If a towing operator does not maintain an office location apart and separate from the operator's commercial tow vehicle, then the commercial tow vehicle is the office for purposes of this chapter, and the application shall include a legible copy or picture of the commercial tow vehicle signage.

8.

Reserved.

9.

The annual nonrefundable municipal tow operator license application fee.

10.

An applicant for the private party impound (PPI) endorsement shall also provide:

a.

An as-built and complete address for each vehicle storage location used by the tow operator, including legal description and physical street location.

i.

Each vehicle storage location must be on property zoned for such use.

ii.

Absent exceptional circumstances described in section 9.54.045, additional vehicle storage locations shall be updated with the municipal clerk prior to use.

b.

The business and after-hours contact telephone numbers for storage location and access information for a vehicle towed under private party impound (PPI), as required in chapter 9.54.

c.

Proof of commercial general liability insurance and garage keepers legal liability insurance, required for each storage or impound yard location in the amount of $500,000.00 per occurrence with a $1,000,000.00 annual aggregate.

d.

A legible copy or picture of a typical sign posted by the tow operator in a privately owned area subject to authorized private party impound (PPI), listing the tow operator's telephone number and storage location in compliance with chapter 9.54.

e.

A private party impound (PPI) information sheet, to be made available at each business and storage yard location used by the tow operator. The PPI information sheet shall include a summary of information required in chapter 9.54 and identify the:

i.

Tow operator;

ii.

The business and after-hours contact telephone numbers;

iii.

Complete address and physical location of the storage yard;

iv.

Normal or regular business hours, as defined in chapter 9.54;

v.

Fee for tow and transport to a storage yard;

vi.

On scene release (curb release) fee;

vii.

Applicable after-hours fee and vehicle access fee;

viii.

Storage fee;

ix.

Applicable fuel surcharge;

x.

Acceptable forms of payment.

f.

Written confirmation signed by the tow operator acknowledging the tow operator's responsibility to maintain records under this chapter, and comply with chapter 9.54 on private party impound (PPI) rates and services.

g.

The nonrefundable municipal fee for the private party impound (PPI) endorsement.

11.

A participant in the rotational tow program administered by the Anchorage Police Department shall indicate the tow operator's participation on the tow operator license application form.

B.

It is the tow operator's responsibility to ensure the license application is filed timely with the municipal clerk to avoid a lapse in lawful operation prior to renewal. Renewal applications filed at least 30 days before expiration of the municipal license are timely. Applications filed less than 30 days before expiration of the tow operator's municipal license do not qualify for temporary municipal license renewal under section 10.10.030.

C.

The municipal clerk may issue a separate renewal application form to avoid duplication of current documentation previously filed by a licensed tow operator.

D.

Unless otherwise specified, failure to file timely updates to license application requirements within 15 business days is a violation of the licensing requirements of this chapter.

(AO No. 2005-83(S), § 1, 1-1-06; AO No. 2014-85, § 2, 8-5-2014; AO No. 2014-137(S), § 2, 11-18-14; Amd. of AO No. 2014-137(S), § 2, 12-16-14 )