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Bona 1-00 FAG€ , A <br />In February, 1995, the county land development regulations (LDRs) were amended to formalize a <br />staff policy and code enforcement board niling to allow tow truck operators who are on emergency <br />towing rotation lists to park their tow trucks in residential areas. The recent LDR amendment <br />(incorporated in both sections 911.15(3) and 912.170) of the LDR's) allows the following in <br />residential areas: <br />"Class "A" tow trucks or hydraulic wreckers, on an emergency towing service rotation list with the local <br />sberffs or police department, used by the resident of the premises, limited to one per premises and parked <br />of -street in a garage, carport or driveway. Under this paragraph, one tow truck or wrecker is allowed to <br />be parked or stored at a residence." <br />In his letter, Mr. Sigler raises two issues regarding tow trucks in residential areas. The first involves <br />tow truck operators who park their tow trucks in residential areas while towing wrecked or disabled <br />vehicles. Iris second complaint is that some tow truck operators park their trucks in residential areas <br />for "most hours of the day." He feels that this is inconsistent with the intent of the county's <br />regulation which is to ensure adequate emergency response time during non -work hours. <br />On May 14, 1996, the Board of County Commissioners considered both of these issues upon Mr. <br />Sigler's request. An excerpt from the minutes of that meeting is attached to this staff report. At that <br />meeting, the Board concurred with staff's position that the county's code does not allow tow truck <br />operators to bring wrecked or disabled vehicles into residential neighborhoods. Regarding the issue <br />of tow duck operators parking in residential areas for extended times other than nights and weekends, <br />the Board took no action. The Board, however, did request that staff further consider this issue, <br />consult with law enforcement officials. and report back to the Board. - <br />Shortly after the May 14th meeting, planning staff met with staff from the sheriffs office regarding <br />administration of the sheriff's tow truck rotation. At that meeting, it was agreed that the tow truck <br />issue would be monitored and, if any problems developed, then the issue would be brought back to <br />the Board. At Mr. Sigler's request, the tow truck issue is now being presented to the Board for <br />reconsideration. <br />As indicated, Mr. Sigler has raised two tow truck issues. These are bringing wrecked/disabled <br />vehicles into residential areas and parking tow trucks in residential areas for extended time frames. <br />• Wrecked/Disabled V <br />Staffs position is that it is a violation of county regulations for a tow truck operator to park his tow <br />truck in a residential area if the tow truck is transporting wrecked/disabled vehicles. The sheriff's <br />department has indicated that similar rules apply to the operators on its rotation. Applicable <br />procedures dictate that tow truck operators transport wrecked/disabled vehicles to a storage <br />compound unless directed otherwise by a vehicle's owner. Violations of these requirements could <br />result in code enforcement action by the county and/or removal from the rotation list by the sheriffs <br />department. <br />According to Mr. Sigler, tow truck operator John Seeley has towed "many cars... into this <br />neighborhood" since the May 14th meeting. Despite Mr. Sigler's complaints, county code <br />enforcement staff and sheriffs deputies have not obtained adequate documentation (tag numbers, <br />photos, observation of violation by code officer or deputy) to warrant formal action. In fact, those <br />instances reported and investigated turned out to be neighborhood cars being towed by Mr. Seeley. <br />In a January, 1997 meeting, county planning staff and sheriff's department staff recommended to Mr. <br />Sigler that, if he observes any firture violations, then he should call the sheriff's department and make <br />a complaint or take pictures and obtain tag numbers. It is staff s position that this is an enforcement <br />issue that can be resolved if complaints are reported. <br />• Extended Parking <br />The other issue raised by Mr. Sigler relates to the extended parking of tow trucks in residential areas. <br />According to Mr. Sigler, the Seeley tow truck is often in the residential neighborhood. Besides nights <br />and weekends, the Seeley tow truck is, according to Mr. Sigler, in the residential area during lunch <br />periods and other times of the day. <br />Current county regulations do not restrict the amount of time that a tow truck may be parked at a <br />residence. Any tow truck parked at a residence, however, must be associated with a business which <br />FEBRUARY 25, 1997 26 <br />W I= <br />