(1) An application must be approved and a letter of appointment issued by the patrol before an operator is authorized to provide towing services for the patrol pursuant to this chapter. However, nothing herein prohibits the patrol from calling a towing business upon the specific request of a person responsible for a vehicle or his/her agent.
(2) An application for letter of appointment must be completed by:
Type of business | Who must complete the application |
Tow company | Owner/operator |
Partnership | Each partner |
Corporation | The patrol may require each of the present and subsequent officers, managers, and stakeholders holding 10% or more of the total issued stock to complete an application. |
(3) To be issued a letter of appointment, the applicant(s) must:
(a) Complete the application form provided by the patrol; and
(b) Attach to the application a signed "letter of contractual agreement" listing the maximum tow rates to be charged for services resulting from state patrol originated calls; and
(c) Satisfy the requirements contained in WAC
204-91A-070; and
(d) Demonstrate through a letter included with the application that they have at least two years of experience within the towing industry, or be granted a waiver if the owner/operator does not have the required two years experience.
(i) The two years of experience must have been acquired within five years of the date of application. The two years of experience may be satisfied by demonstrating any of the following:
(A) He or she has been a registered tow truck operator for a minimum of two years prior to the date of application with at least one approved "A" or "B" class tow truck, additional trucks are optional, and has a working knowledge of the paperwork requirements for impounds; or
(B) He or she has worked as an employee of a tow company on the state patrol's rotational tow list and gained experience within the towing industry including, but not limited to, the operation of vehicles, complying with the state and federal standards and regulations, and processing of paperwork for auditing and other purposes; or
(C) He or she will keep in place the existing management team/employees for a minimum of one year upon purchasing the business.
(ii) If the owner/operator does not have the required two years experience, the owner/operator may be granted a waiver of this requirement. If the owner/operator is granted a waiver, the letter of appointment may be granted on a probationary basis for a period of one year from the date of the waiver.
(4) Upon receipt by the patrol of a completed application:
(a) The district office must:
(i) Complete the tow zone portion of the application form. The district commander or designee will enter "approved" or "disapproved" next to the zone designation and sign the application form; and
(ii) Forward the application form to the section.
(b) The section will review the application form to ensure the applicant(s) meet all the requirements as outlined under subsections (5) through (9) of this section. If the application is denied, a letter will be sent to the applicant(s) from the section articulating the reasons for the denial. If the application is approved it will be assigned a docket number which will be its permanent identification number for all matters relating to the application and letter of appointment.
(5) The patrol will refuse to issue or may revoke a letter of appointment or contract if the applicant, partner, corporate officer involved in daily operations, or any employee who operates a tow truck, assists in vehicle auctions, or is involved in daily operations:
(a) Has been convicted of any of the following:
(i) Any class A felony or any "sex offense" as defined in RCW
9.94A.030, regardless of the date of conviction; or
(ii) Any class B felony within the last ten years; or
(iii) Any class C felony within the last five years; or
(iv) A DUI, as defined in chapter
46.61 RCW, two or more times within the last five years; or
(v) Any gross misdemeanor listed in this subsection within the last three years:
(B) Any crime with a finding of domestic violence as defined in RCW
9.94A.030 and
10.99.020;
(C) Assault in the fourth degree as defined in RCW
9A.36.041;
(D) Reckless endangerment as defined in RCW
9A.36.050;
(F) Interfering with reporting of domestic violence as defined in RCW
9A.36.150;
(G) Aiming or discharging firearm, dangerous weapon as defined in RCW
9.41.230;
(H) Dangerous weapon as defined in RCW
9.41.250;
(I) Unlawful carrying or handling weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm as defined in RCW
9.41.270;
(J) Possessing dangerous weapon on school facilities as defined in RCW
9.41.280;
(K) Failure to register as felony firearm offender as defined in RCW
9.41.335;
(L) Any crime with a finding of sexual motivation as defined in RCW
9.94A.030;
(M) Failure to report depictions of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct as defined in RCW
9.68A.080;
(N) Communication with minor for immoral purposes as defined in RCW
9.68A.090;
(O) Permitting commercial sexual abuse of a minor as defined in RCW
9.68A.103;
(P) Sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.44.096;
(R) Failure to register as sex offender or kidnapping offender as defined in RCW
9A.44.132;
(S) Custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.44.170;
(T) Indecent exposure as defined in RCW
9A.88.010;
(U) Vehicle prowling in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.52.100;
(V) Making or having burglar tools as defined in RCW
9A.52.060;
(W) Criminal trespass in the first degree as defined in RCW
9A.52.070;
(X) Theft in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.56.050;
(Y) Making or possessing motor vehicle theft tools as defined in RCW
9A.56.063;
(Z) Theft of rental, leased, lease-purchased, or loaned property as defined in RCW
9A.56.096;
(AA) Possessing stolen property in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.56.170;
(BB) Obscuring the identity of a machine as defined in RCW
9A.56.180;
(CC) Criminal impersonation in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.60.045;
(DD) Unlawful issuance of checks or drafts as defined in RCW
9A.56.060;
(EE) Unlawful sale of food stamps as defined in RCW
9.91.140;
(FF) Trafficking in food stamps as defined in RCW
9.91.142;
(GG) Theft of motor vehicle fuel as defined in RCW
46.61.740;
(HH) Driving under the influence as defined in RCW
46.61.502;
(II) Physical control of a vehicle while under the influence as defined in RCW
46.61.504;
(JJ) Reckless driving as defined in RCW
46.61.500;
(KK) Reckless endangerment of roadway workers as defined in RCW
46.61.527;
(LL) Hit and run attended as defined in RCW
46.52.020;
(MM) Operating railroad, steamboat, vehicle while intoxicated as defined in RCW
9.91.020;
(NN) Operation of vessel under the influence as defined in RCW
79A.60.040;
(OO) Obstructing a law enforcement officer as defined in RCW
9A.76.020;
(RR) Violation of antiharassment order as defined in RCW
9A.46.040;
(SS) Violation of order restricting contact as defined in RCW
9A.46.080;
(TT) Escape in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.76.130;
(UU) Rendering criminal assistance in the first degree as defined in RCW
9A.76.070;
(VV) Malicious mischief in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.48.090;
(WW) Making a false or misleading statement to a public servant as defined in RCW
9A.76.175;
(XX) False reporting as defined in RCW
9A.84.040;
(YY) False swearing as defined in RCW
9A.72.040;
(ZZ) Criminal mistreatment in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.42.035;
(AAA) Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.42.080;
(BBB) Violation of a court order as defined in RCW
26.50.110;
(CCC) Jury tampering as defined in RCW
9A.72.140;
(DDD) Tampering with physical evidence as defined in RCW
9A.72.150;
(EEE) Animal cruelty in the second degree as defined in RCW
16.52.207;
(FFF) Reckless burning in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.48.050;
(GGG) Any comparable out-of-state, federal or municipal crimes.
(vi) Any misdemeanor listed in this subsection within the last year or:
(A) Any crime with a finding of domestic violence as defined in RCW
9.94A.030 and
10.99.020;
(B) Alteration of identifying marks on a firearm as defined in RCW
9.41.140;
(C) Any crime with a finding of sexual motivation as defined in RCW
9.94A.030;
(D) Indecent exposure as defined in RCW
9A.88.010;
(E) Permitting prostitution as defined in RCW
9A.88.090;
(F) Patronizing a prostitute as defined in RCW
9A.88.110;
(G) Criminal trespass in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.52.080;
(H) Unlawful sale of food stamps as defined in RCW
9.91.140;
(I) Driver under twenty-one consuming alcohol or marijuana as defined in RCW
46.61.503;
(J) Hit and run unattended as defined in RCW
46.52.010;
(K) Negligent driving in the first degree as defined in RCW
46.61.5249;
(L) Escape in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.76.130;
(M) Rendering criminal assistance in the second degree as defined in RCW
9A.76.080;
(N) Rendering criminal assistance in the third degree as defined in RCW
9A.76.090;
(O) Criminal mistreatment in the fourth degree as defined in RCW
9A.42.037;
(P) Leaving a child in the care of a sex offender as defined in RCW
9A.42.110;
(Q) Violation of temporary restraining order relating to child abuse as defined in RCW
26.44.063;
(R) Violation of temporary restraining order restricting visitation as defined in RCW
26.44.150;
(S) Refusing to summon aid for a peace officer as defined in RCW
9A.76.030;
(T) Resisting arrest as defined in RCW
9A.76.040;
(U) Bail jumping as defined in RCW
9A.76.170;
(V) Disorderly conduct as defined in RCW
9A.84.030; and
(W) Any comparable out-of-state, federal or municipal crimes.
(b) Must register as a sex offender or kidnapping offender; or
(c) Has been granted a deferred prosecution under chapter
10.05 RCW for any gross misdemeanor within the last three years.
(6) The patrol may refuse to issue or may revoke a letter of appointment or contract if the applicant, partner, corporate officer involved in daily operations, or any employee who operates a tow truck, assists in vehicle auctions, or is involved in daily operations:
(a) Has been convicted of any misdemeanor within the last year; or
(b) Has been granted a deferred prosecution under chapter
10.05 RCW for any misdemeanor within the last year.
(7) The patrol may refuse to issue or may revoke a letter of appointment or contract if any applicant, partner or corporate officer involved in daily operations, or any employee who operates a tow truck or assists in vehicle auctions:
(a) Has demonstrated a willful disregard for complying with ordinances, statutes, administrative rules or court orders, whether at the local, state or federal level; or
(b) Fails to demonstrate character and general fitness sufficient to command the confidence of the patrol and warrant a belief that the business will be operated honestly, fairly and efficiently in the conduct of towing, impound, and vehicle auction activities. In determining character and general fitness, the patrol may consider:
(i) Prior contacts with law enforcement; and
(ii) Criminal record; and
(iii) Reputation in the community; and
(iv) Associations.
(8) A misrepresentation of fact found to have been made by an applicant during the application process or by a letter of appointment holder shall be deemed a lack of good faith and shall constitute good and sufficient cause for the denial of an application or the revocation or suspension of the letter of appointment.
(9) Only one application per year to tow on the patrol's rotational tow list will be accepted and considered for an applicant who has had their previous application denied or had their letter or contract of appointment revoked. The year will run from the date of application denial or the date of revocation of the letter of appointment.
(10) The term "conviction" as used in this section will have the same meaning as used in RCW
9.94A.030.
(11) Crimes referenced in this section are as defined in the criminal code as they existed at the time of the violation, as they now exist or may later be amended in the state of Washington. Out-of-state convictions for offenses will be classified according to the comparable offense definitions and sentences provided by Washington law.
(12) An individual may request to review their record using the form outlined in WAC
446-20-400. The request must be made by the person whose record is sought. When requested by the patrol, other documentation to prove identification must be provided prior to viewing the record. An individual wishing to contest the information contained in their criminal history must do so using the process established in chapter
446-20 WAC.
(13) For the purpose of this chapter, the term daily operations will mean processing:
(a) The acceptance or release of a vehicle under a letter of appointment; or
(b) Transactions for any tow requested under a letter of appointment.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
46.37.005,
46.55.050, and
46.55.115. WSR 19-06-060, § 204-91A-060, filed 3/5/19, effective 4/5/19; WSR 14-17-104, § 204-91A-060, filed 8/19/14, effective 9/19/14; WSR 13-18-065, § 204-91A-060, filed 9/3/13, effective 10/4/13; WSR 10-24-068, § 204-91A-060, filed 11/30/10, effective 12/31/10; WSR 09-09-118, § 204-91A-060, filed 4/21/09, effective 5/22/09. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.37.005 and
46.55.115. WSR 07-02-025A, § 204-91A-060, filed 12/22/06, effective 1/22/07. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.37.005. WSR 04-20-021, § 204-91A-060, filed 9/28/04, effective 10/29/04. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.37.005,
46.55.050, and
46.55.115. WSR 02-07-056, § 204-91A-060, filed 3/15/02, effective 4/15/02. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.37.005 and
46.55.050. WSR 97-08-021, § 204-91A-060, filed 3/25/97, effective 4/25/97; WSR 94-18-083, § 204-91A-060, filed 9/2/94, effective 10/3/94. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.61.567. WSR 89-21-044, § 204-91A-060, filed 10/13/89, effective 11/13/89. Statutory Authority: RCW
46.35.005 [46.37.005]. WSR 89-14-015 (Order 89-04-ESR), § 204-91A-060, filed 6/23/89.]
