§ 31-17. Choice of wrecker service.

(a)

Police shall not solicit, recommend or influence choice; authorized to direct tow to police station. No police officer, investigating or present at the scene of any wreck, accident, collision, or police incident shall directly or indirectly either by word, gesture, sign or otherwise, recommend to any person, the name of any particular owner engaged in the wrecker services or repair business, nor shall any such police officer influence or attempt to influence in any manner the decision of any person choosing or selecting a wrecker or repair service. Provided, that any police officer, in the exercise of his/her discretion as a police officer, may direct that any vehicle (whether towed by a wrecker selected by the owner of the vehicle or from the "wrecker rotation list") shall be taken by the driver of the wrecker towing the vehicle directly to the police station and there held by the city for any lawful purpose.

(b)

Dispositions of vehicles. The police department may move a vehicle from the scene of an accident or remove a vehicle whose driver is under arrest.

(c)

Right of owner to request. The owner or driver of a wrecked auto or the arrested owner or driver at a police incident site has the right to request, through the investigating officer, a particular wrecker service, provided that: the wrecker service requested has a valid auto wrecker permit issued by the State of Texas; that said wrecker service can respond to the incident in a reasonable amount of time; and the vehicle is not subject to police impound for evidence carrying purposes.

(Ord. No. 374-1, § 1, 6-24-91)