§ 12-736. Dispatch procedures.  


Latest version.
  • When a police officer investigating an accident or disabled vehicle in the city determines that any vehicle involved should be removed by a wrecker, the officer shall first determine whether or not the owner or his authorized representative has already made arrangements for its removal. If no arrangements have been made, the investigating officer shall cause the following steps to be taken, in sequence, to complete the wrecker pull form:

    (1)

    The officer shall inquire if the driver or other vehicle occupant has a specific place to which he desires the vehicle removed.

    (2)

    The officer shall inquire if the driver or other vehicle occupant has a particular wrecker service that he wishes to be called to the scene to remove said vehicle.

    (3)

    The officers shall then notify city police headquarters of the information contained in subsections (1) and (2) of this section and direct that the wrecker service requested by the driver or other vehicle occupant proceed immediately to the scene of the accident. Calls involving long distance charges shall be made by the driver or other occupant, not by the police department.

    (4)

    If for any reason, no wrecker operator is selected, the officer shall notify headquarters and the dispatcher shall direct the police wrecker service to go to the scene and remove the vehicle.

    (5)

    If the police wrecker service is used, upon the wrecker operator's arrival at the scene, the officer shall complete the wrecker pull form. One copy of the wrecker pull form shall be left with the driver or other vehicle occupant, the second copy shall be given to the wrecker operator, and the third shall be kept on file in the office of the chief of police.

    (6)

    In the event that a wrecker does not arrive at the scene of an accident or disabled vehicle within a reasonable time after being notified, the police officer at the scene may notify police headquarters that the police wrecker service be notified to respond.

    (7)

    In the event that the police wrecker service does not respond within a reasonable time, the police officer at the scene shall notify police headquarters and the dispatcher shall direct another wrecker service, permitted to operate within the city, to respond and remove the vehicle. Such requests to wrecker service shall be on a rotational basis as established by section 12-701.

    (8)

    If a wrecker on rotation does not have the requested equipment available, the dispatcher may call another source.

    (9)

    The police department shall keep a log of every call received which log shall indicate the date, time of call, the disposition of the vehicle towed, and the date and time of such disposition.

(Code 1982, § 15-150; Ord. No. 87-56, § 1, 9-21-1987)