WSR 97-04-053
PROPOSED RULES
WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
[Filed February 3, 1997, 1:42 p.m.]
Supplemental Notice to WSR 96-23-031.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 96-14-076 [96-19-047].
Title of Rule: Chapter 204-91A WAC, Towing businesses. Amend section regarding applications for a letter of appointment to provide towing services for the state patrol. Amend the length of vehicles used in calculating basic storage fees.
Purpose: Clarify the criteria necessary for a letter of appointment to the state patrol's rotational tow list. Allow tow businesses more space for vehicle storage in tow impound yards.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.55.050.
Summary: Amendment will state grounds for revoking or refusing an application to provide towing services for the Washington State Patrol and allow the towing industry to store more vehicles in tow impound yards.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Changes will ensure persons with certain criminal records not be allowed to provide towing services for the state patrol, thereby safeguarding the public. Amendments will bring vehicle lengths used to calculate storage fees into line with standard vehicle lengths.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Ms. Carol Morton, 4242 Martin Way, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 412-8934; Implementation: Sergeant Jim Gallagher, 4242 Martin Way, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 412-8932; and Enforcement: Captain Tim Erickson, General Administration Building, 210 11th Avenue, Olympia, (360) 753-0360.
Name of Proponent: Washington State Patrol, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Amendment will allow the state patrol to revoke or refuse persons who have been convicted of certain felonies a letter of appointment to provide towing services for the state patrol. This would help ensure the public receives quality towing services from the state patrol. By amending the vehicle lengths used to calculate storage fees, the towing industry would be able to store more vehicles in their tow impound yards.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Adds verbiage stating that the Washington State Patrol may revoke or refuse a letter of appointment to the patrol's rotational towing list based on certain felony convictions. Vehicle storage fees will be calculated on the standard length of twenty feet, rather than twenty-five feet. This will allow tow business operators to store more vehicles in tow impound yards.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Under these amendments, tow businesses may still operate, however the business may not be able to provide tow services for the state patrol.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Washington State Patrol, Fleet Section Conference Room, 4242 Martin Way, Olympia, WA 98504, on March 12, 1997, at 9:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Ms. Jan Baca by March 7, 1997, (360) 753-0626.
Submit Written Comments to: Ms. Carol Morton, Washington State Patrol, Equipment Review Unit, P.O. Box 42635, Olympia, WA 98504-2635, FAX (360) 493-9090, by March 7, 1997.
Date of Intended Adoption: March 24, 1997.
February 3, 1997
Annette M. Sandberg
Chief
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 94-18-083, filed 9/2/94, effective
10/3/94)
WAC 204-91A-060 Application for letter of appointment. (1) An
application for a letter of appointment will not be considered or
approved until the applicant is qualified as a licensed and registered
tow truck operator with at least one approved "A" or "B" class tow truck.
Additional trucks are optional.
Note: An exception may be made if an operator desires a letter of appointment for class "C" tows only. In such situations, only a class "C" truck is required.
Upon request, the section shall advise the applicant of the contents of the department's regulations and of the standards established for the issuance of a letter of appointment.
(2) An application for a letter of appointment to provide towing service for the patrol shall be filed by the applicant with the local state patrol district office on a form prescribed by the patrol. The state patrol may refuse to approve or may revoke a letter of appointment/contract if the applicant, partner, or employee has been convicted of any class "A" felony, or has within the last ten years been convicted of any lesser felony involving assault, sexual abuse, or theft as defined in RCW 9A.56.030. In the case of a partnership, each partner shall apply on the form prescribed. In the case of a corporation, the patrol may require that each of the present and any subsequent officers, managers, and stockholders holding ten percent or more of the total issued and outstanding stock of the applicant corporation complete an application form. A signed "letter of contractual agreement" listing the maximum tow rates to be charged for services resulting from state patrol originated calls will be attached to the application.
(3) The district commander or designee shall complete tow zone portion of the form. He/she will enter "approved" or "disapproved" and will sign the form next to the zone designation. The application and "letter of contractual agreement" will be forwarded to the section.
(4) The application form will be assigned a docket number, by the section, which shall be its permanent identification number for all matters relating to appointments, granted or denied, and any other correspondence with the section thereafter.
(5) The filing of an application for a letter of appointment does
not in itself authorize the operator to provide towing services pursuant
to this chapter until a letter of appointment has been issued by the
section. However, nothing herein shall prohibit the patrol from calling
the towing business upon the specific request of a person responsible for
a vehicle or his agent.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.55.050. 94-18-083, 204-91A-060, filed 9/2/94, effective 10/3/94. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.61.567. 89-21-044, 204-91A-060, filed 10/13/89, effective 11/13/89.
Statutory Authority: RCW 46.35.005 [46.37.005]. 89-14-015 (Order 89-04-ESR), 204-91A-060, filed 6/23/89.]
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 89-21-044, filed 10/13/89, effective
11/13/89)
WAC 204-91A-140 Fees. (1) All towing fees shall be based on a flat, hourly rate only and shall apply without regard for the hour of day, day of the week or whether the service was performed on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. The hourly rate for each class of truck shall be the only charge for services performed for initial tows and secondary tows performed during business hours. Charges for secondary tows performed during nonbusiness hours, on weekends or holidays, if different from the hourly rate, shall be negotiated and agreed upon with the vehicle owner/agent before the tow is made.
(2) The chief of the state patrol shall, prior to October 15 of each year, establish maximum hourly towing rates for each class of tow truck and maximum daily storage rates that tow operators may charge for services performed as a result of state patrol calls. The maximum rates shall be determined after consulting with members of the towing industry, review of current private towing rates, and such other economic factors as the chief may deem appropriate.
When signed by the chief (or his/her designee) and the tow operator, a contractual agreement to charge no more than the maximum rates shall become part of the operator's letter of appointment. The tow operator may, however, adopt a rate schedule charging less than the maximum rates established by the chief.
The hourly rate shall:
(a) Be the only basis used to compute total charges for towing services.
(b) Apply when the call is made by the state patrol, for whatever reason, including but not limited to accidents, incidents, disableds, and impound requests.
(c) Include all ancillary activities such as, but not limited to, removal of glass and debris from the roadway and any other area referred to as the "scene or incident," necessary winching, dolly service, drive line removal, installing chains on the tow truck, installation of portable lights, vehicle hookup for towing or transporting, tire replacement (on vehicle to be towed) and standby time.
(d) Be considered to include one person (the driver) per truck. Any charges for additional labor and/or ancillary vehicles (trailers, pickups, etc.), for removing debris, cargo, etc., must have prior authorization from the legal or registered owner/agent, or a member of the patrol at the scene.
(e) Be computed from the actual time the truck departs in response
to a call until it returns to the starting location or it begins
responding to another call minus any down time.* The hourly rate shall
be applied to the resulting net time and, after the first hour, shall be
rounded to the nearest fifteen minutes. The operator may charge the
hourly rate for the first hour or any portion thereof. After the first
hour, no more than one-quarter of the hourly rate may be charged for each
fifteen minutes of tow or service work performed.
* Down time includes coffee or meal breaks, personal errands by the operator, and/or any mechanical failure on the truck or equipment.
(3) The basic storage fee:
(a) Shall be calculated on a twenty-four-hour basis and shall be charged to the nearest half day from the time the vehicle arrived at the secure storage area; and
(b) Shall be the same for all three and four-wheel vehicles less
than ((twenty-five)) twenty feet in length; and
(c) For vehicles or combinations exceeding ((twenty-five)) twenty
feet shall be computed by multiplying each ((twenty-five)) twenty feet
of vehicle length, or any portion thereof, by the basic storage fee;
(d) For two-wheel motorcycles shall be one-half the basic storage fee for three and four-wheel vehicles.
(4) After hours release fee. If an operator or employee is already present, for other reasons, at the storage facility after business hours when a customer arrives, the vehicle and/or property shall be released as if it were during business hours. No "after hours fee" may be assessed. If the operator or employee is called to the place of business specifically for the purpose of releasing the vehicle and/or property, an "after hours fee," equivalent to one-half of the maximum Class "A" hourly rate, may be assessed.
(5) Any tow operator who charges the general public (i.e., private citizens) rates lower than those identified in the contractual agreement for services listed below shall charge the same lower rate for similar services performed as a result of state patrol originated calls.
(a) Roadside mechanical service, including fuel transfer, tire and belt changes, etc.;
(b) Disabled vehicle tow/transportation;
(c) Storage;
(d) After hours release fees.
Any such price requirement shall not be imposed for unoccupied
vehicle situations in which the owner/operator has had no prior contact
with either the state patrol or the tow operator.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.61.567. 89-21-044, 204-91A-140, filed 10/13/89, effective 11/13/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.35.005 [46.37.005]. 89-14-015 (Order 89-04-ESR), 204-91A-140, filed 6/23/89.]