R13-3-1201. Tow Truck Agent and Company Requirements

A. A tow truck company shall ensure that each tow truck agent: 1. While operating a tow truck possesses and carries a valid driver’s license for the class of tow truck operated; 2. While operating a tow truck possesses and carries a current medical examination certificate in accordance with 49 CFR 391.45 as referenced in A.A.C. R17-5-202; 3. Does not operate a tow truck if the agent has more than two moving violation convictions within the previous 12 months; 4. Possesses the skill and knowledge to rig, move, pick up, and transport a vehicle without causing avoidable damage to the vehicle or other property; 5. Has not consumed any alcoholic beverage within four hours of operating the tow truck; 6. Is not using or under the influence of alcohol or any of the following substances as defined in A.R.S. § 13-3401 while operating a tow truck: a. Peyote; b. Vapor-releasing substance containing a toxic substance; c. Marijuana; d. Dangerous drugs; e. Narcotic drugs; or f. Prescription-only drug unless the tow truck agent obtains the prescription-only drug pursuant to a valid prescription. 7. Has not been convicted of committing a crime involving fraud, embezzlement, or theft in the five years before operating a tow truck and has never been convicted of committing a felony homicide, felony kidnapping, felony assault, felony sexual offense, or felony robbery; 8. Has not been convicted under A.R.S. § 28-1381 (driving while under the influence of narcotics, dangerous drugs, or intoxicating beverages) or A.R.S. § 28-693 (reckless driving) while engaged in the operation of a tow truck; and 9. Does not operate a tow truck while the agent’s license to drive is suspended under A.R.S. § 28-1321 (Implied Consent Law), A.R.S. § 28-3473 (license suspension or revocation), or A.R.S. § 28-4141 (suspended license, no insurance). B. A tow truck agent shall: 1. Comply with A.R.S. § 28-1108; 2. Permit a peace officer or other duly authorized agent of a law enforcement agency to inspect a tow truck to determine compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. The inspection may be conducted without notice at any reasonable time and place; and 3. Have a certification from a licensed testing facility certifying the tested line-pull of the winch or the tested lifting capacity of the boom assembly, if the tow truck is equipped with a homemade boom assembly or homemade winch. C. A tow truck agent shall not: 1. Operate a tow truck without an identification number and a legible copy of a tow truck inspection report, as required by this Chapter; 2. Transfer a permit decal or tow truck inspection report from one tow truck to another; 3. Tow or move a vehicle from a highway, street, or public property without prior authorization from the owner or operator of the vehicle, the owner’s agent, a person responsible for maintaining the public property, or a law enforcement officer. The tow truck agent may move, but shall not tow, a vehicle to extract an individual from wreckage or to remove a hazard to life or property at a collision scene; 4. Use a hand-operated or electric winch for collision recovery work; 5. Operate a tow truck for collision recovery work unless certified for collision recovery; 6. Use a flatbed tow truck with a G.V.W.R. of less than 14,001 pounds to transport more than one vehicle unless the additional vehicle is a golf cart, a motor-driven cycle, or a trailer that weighs less than 1,500 pounds; 7. Operate a tow truck that has one or more of the following defects; a. Both warning light assembly lights missing or inoperative; b. All load securement devices missing or defective; c. A portable lamp not in compliance with A.R.S. §§ 28-925(A), 28-927 or 28-939, if a portable lamp is required; d. Any steering axle tire with less than 4/32-inch tread depth in one major groove; e. For an axle other than a steering axle, a tire with less than 2/32-inch tread depth and for a dual wheel axle, both tires on the same side with less than 2/32-inch tread depth; f. Any flat tire or tire with cord exposed by cut or wear; g. Any tow plate, tow bar, tow sling, wheel-lift, or under-lift exhibiting wear in excess of manufacturer standards at any pivot point or any crack in a structural component; h. Wire rope in violation of R13-3-1106; i. Any component not maintained within manufacturer standards; or j. A deficiency noted on an inspection report after the time-frame available to the tow truck agent to correct deficiencies has elapsed; 8. Equip a tow truck with homemade boom assembly or homemade winch, unless the tow truck company has a certification from a licensed testing facility certifying the tested line pull of the winch or the tested lifting capacity of the boom assembly; 9. Tow a vehicle using a tow sling, tow plate, or tow bar unless appropriate load securement devices are attached; 10. Transport a vehicle by flatbed or truck, truck-tractor, or semi-trailer unless the vehicle is secured with a minimum of a four-point tie-down, not including the winch; 11. Tow a vehicle with a wheel-lift, under-lift, tow plate, tow bar, or tow sling unless two safety chains are attached by crossing the chains with one end of each chain attached to a major structural member of the tow truck and the other end attached to a major structural member of the towed vehicle, with no attachments to the bumpers; 12. Tow a vehicle using a tow plate, tow bar, tow sling, wheel-lift, or under-lift unless a portable lamp is affixed to the rear of the rear-most towed vehicle, in plain view, and when activated, visible to traffic traveling in the same direction; 13. Activate warning light assembly except at the scene of service, or when transporting a vehicle that presents a hazard from a collision scene; 14. Use any vehicle towed or article stored in the towed vehicle, unless it is the property of the tow truck company or tow truck agent; 15. Operate a tow truck that exceeds the manufacturer’s G.V.W.R. without a load or the manufacturer’s rated capacity for the boom or bed assembly; 16. Operate a tow truck that is equipped with a tow plate, tow bar, or tow sling unless the tow plate, tow bar, or tow sling has a manufacturer weight rating that exceeds any load carried on it; or 17. Refuse to make prompt restitution for any damage for which the tow truck company is legally liable. D. The Department may suspend a permit decal for failure to comply with these standards.