Title
Amending Section 9-605 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Towing," by providing further requirements for towing companies regarding towing vehicles from private lots, private property and driveways, under certain terms, conditions and penalties.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Section 9-605 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9-600. SERVICE AND OTHER BUSINESSES.
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§ 9-605. Towing.
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(11) Towing From Private Lots, Private Property and Driveways. Only towing companies licensed under paragraph (3) of this Section shall be permitted to tow any illegally parked vehicle from any licensed or unlicensed parking lot, from private property, from any common driveway and from in front of any driveway where the vehicle is blocking access to that driveway, and provided that such towing companies must have the prior written permission of the owner or other person in lawful possession of the property, or of a designated agent of such person, prior to towing from or in front of such property. A towing company shall retain on file all written permissions required by this Section.
(a) No such tow is permitted unless the parking lot or private property has posted in a conspicuous place near its entry which can be easily seen by the public a sign, no smaller than thirty-six (36) inches high and thirty-six (36) inches across or, for single-family residential properties, no smaller than eighteen (18) inches high and eighteen (18) inches across, with text of sufficient size to ensure that the sign can be easily read. No such sign shall be posted unless the towing company has reported the location of the sign to the Enforcement Agency. The Enforcement Agency may by regulation [detail the manner in which such reports must be filed, and may] require a towing company to file an annual or other regularly updated list of all signs posted by the towing company. The towing...
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