New Jersey § 56:13-9

§ 56:13-9.

As used in this act: 1 “ Basic towing service ” means towing as defined in this section and other ancillary services as may be specified

by the director by regulation , which are components of a routine tow . “ Decoupling fee ” means a charge by a towing company for releasing a motor vehicle to its owner or

operator when the vehicle has been, or is about to be, hooked or lifted by a tow truck , but prior to the vehicle actually having been moved or removed from the property. “ Director ” means the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “ Division ” means the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety. “ Motor vehicle ” includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power, excepting such

vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks and motorized bicycles, motorized scooters,

motorized wheelchairs and motorized skateboards. “ Motor vehicle ” includes commercial motor vehicles as defined in R.S.39:1-1 . “ Non-consensual towing ” means the towing of a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner or operator

of the vehicle , regardless of the reason for the tow . “ Person ” means an individual, a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability

company or any other business entity. “ Private property owner ” means the owner or lessee of private property, or an agent of such owner or lessee,

but shall not include a private property towing company acting as an agent of such

owner or lessee. “ Private property towing ” means the non-consensual towing from private property or from a storage facility

by a motor vehicle of a motor vehicle that is parked illegally, parked during a time at which such parking

is not permitted, or otherwise parked without authorization, or the immobilization

of or preparation for moving or removing of such motor vehicle, for which a service

charge is made, either directly or indirectly. This term shall not include the towing of a motor vehicle that has been abandoned

on private property in violation of section 1 of P.L.1967, c. 305 ( C.39:4-56.5 ), provided that the abandoned vehicle is reported to the appropriate law enforcement

agency prior to removal and the vehicle is removed in accordance with section 1 of

P.L.1973, c. 137 ( C.39:4-56.6 ). “ Private property towing company ” means a person offering or performing private property towing services. “ Towing ” means the moving or removing , from public or private property or from a storage facility , by a motor vehicle of a motor vehicle that is damaged as a result of an accident or otherwise disabled, is

recovered after being stolen, or is parked illegally or otherwise without authorization,

parked during a time at which such parking is not permitted, or otherwise parked without

authorization, or the immobilization of or preparation for moving or removing of such

motor vehicle, for which a service charge is made, either directly or indirectly. Dues or other charges of clubs or associations which provide towing services to

club or association members shall not be considered a service charge for purposes

of this definition. “ Vehicle ” means any device in, upon , or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway. 1

L.2007, c. 193 (N.J.S.A. § 56:13-7 et seq.)