§ 162-1536. Owners and operators.

(a)

Every towing company making application shall have operated a heavy-duty tow truck service domiciled in the parish for at least two continuous years immediately prior to submission of a zone application. The city council may approve the assignment of a zone to a towing company not domiciled in the parish to provide service to the 15th Ward (Algiers) after having received a recommendation thereon from the superintendent of the department of police and upon a determination that such zone would otherwise receive inadequate service.

(b)

No officer, owner, partner, or other individual with a remunerary interest in the licensed towing company making application for a zone license or an employee of the company shall have been convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of R.S. 32:521 pertaining to stored motor vehicles or R.S. 32:701 et seq., the Louisiana Certificate of Title Law or R.S. 14:67 pertaining to auto theft.

(c)

The superintendent of police may establish such rules and regulations as are necessary to enforce the provisions of this section including criminal history investigations of company personnel. A fee shall be charged for the performance of a criminal history investigation or the renewal of any clearance granted hereunder in the amount of $50.00 for each company owner, tow truck driver, or other employee who assists tow truck drivers outside of a company's place of residence and $20.00 per individual for all other company personnel.

(d)

The owner and the drivers of each towing company shall have attended or within six months of having received a zone license attend an instruction program approved by the department of fire on the handling of hazardous materials as pertains to their zone duties.

(1)

Verification of such attendance must be submitted to the department of police. Failure to do so within the allotted time shall result in the revocation of the license.

(2)

Any towing company whose personnel have not received such instruction prior to receiving a tow zone license shall have submitted to the department of police a notarized agreement through which the towing company has obtained the services of a firm trained in the handling of hazardous material carriers. Such agreement shall have been approved by the department of fire as meeting the intent of this subsection.

(Code 1956, § 12-296(d))