Athens City Code

Abandoned motor vehicle. A motor vehicle meeting the definition of an abandoned motor vehicle under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-31-102, as amended, including a vehicle left unattended on public property for statutory periods, a vehicle in obvious disrepair, a vehicle illegally left on public property, or other vehicles defined by state law. City-requested tow. A tow requested, authorized, or directed by the Police Department, including through dispatch, when the owner, operator, or authorized agent does not request a specific towing company or when public safety or law enforcement necessity requires City-directed towing. Disabled, immobile, or wrecked vehicle. A motor vehicle that cannot safely move under its own power due to accident, mechanical failure, damage, weather, emergency conditions, or other circumstances requiring towing or recovery. Owner-requested tow. A tow requested by the vehicle owner, operator, or authorized agent. The Police Department will honor such requests unless public safety, response time, equipment availability, or law enforcement needs require a City-requested tow. Police Chief. The Chief of Police of the City of Athens or the Chief's designee. Rotation list. The list maintained by the Police Department of towing companies approved and permitted by the City to respond to City-requested towing calls on a weekly rotating basis. Storage facility. A lot, building, or other facility used by a towing company for the storage and safekeeping of vehicles towed at the request of the Police Department. Tennessee Manual. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Highway Patrol Towing Service Standards Manual, revised January 2017, as amended, superseded, or replaced. Towing company. Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other entity engaged in the business of offering towing, recovery, transport, or storage services by use of tow trucks and storage facilities. Tow truck. A vehicle used to tow, recover, transport, or carry motor vehicles and classified under this chapter and the Tennessee Manual as Class A, B, C, or D, as applicable. Winching. Involving the use of a motor-powered spool of cable to recover a vehicle from locations not accessible for direct hook-up. This process is used to move vehicles from areas like ditches, mud, or embankments to a position where they can be towed, separate from standard loading or towing procedures. Working days. Monday through Friday, excluding official City holidays, unless state law requires a different calculation for a specific notice or deadline.

(Code 1972, § 5-603; Code 1995, § 9-503; Ord. No. 1083, § 3, 10-15-2019)