Each contractor is required to have 4 medium duty tow trucks, two of which must be four wheel drive vehicles all of which are radio equipped and in good repair. Each truck must carry dollies, large broom, towing chains, road flares, and a current book of maps of the City of Saint Paul. In addition, the contractor is required to have six (6) medium-duty flatbed tow trucks capable of towing two vehicles at one time.

Vehicle to be Towed:

Every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, including but not limited to semi-trailers, tractors, straight trucks, passenger automobiles, motorcycles, scooters, trailers and snowmobiles; and any device which requires the use of a winch truck for transportation.

Tow Description:

The City of Saint Paul Tow Contract provides several different types of tows:

A-Tow:

Any tow requiring a sustained police presence (i.e., custodial arrest, accident, stolen recovery, and City owned vehicles that need immediate removal). Tow contractor is required to arrive at the scene within 30 minutes. A-tows also include any tow requiring unusual equipment or procedures. Do not call for the tow truck until ready to conduct the tow. Contractors charge extra to wait during pictures and measurements, etc.

A submission of tow information must be entered online and saved in the Tow Manager prior to a vehicle being towed from the scene.

Administrative Police Tow:

A specially contracted tow that requires the towing of a vehicle owned or operated by the police department; or the towing of a vehicle upon the request of the police department for specific investigative or administrative purposes not covered by an A-tow.

This tow provides for squad mechanical services and includes moving the vehicles to and from the public safety garage (1675 Energy Park Dr), any police headquarters, or the impound lot.

Enter administrative tow information as usual in the Tow Manager:

  • Select "other" for why the vehicle was towed and for location.
  • In the notes section explain the location to where the tow was sent. For example, towed to impound lot, PSG, or other location, as necessary.

B-Tow:

Non-emergency and non-custodial tows including abandoned vehicles and illegally parked vehicles which require no unusual equipment or procedures and no hold. Police presence is not required at the time of the tow. During a declared snow emergency and for 72 hours after expiration, the tow contractor shall operate without a service time limit. All other circumstances require the tow contractor must arrive at the impound lot within (4) hours of dispatch. The B-Tow procedure will be used by the parking enforcement unit. District squads may write B-Tows during snow emergencies. The information required on the B-Tow is the vehicle description, location and

registration information. Inventory will be conducted on the street and any valuables will be turned into the property room.

Unusual Tow (time tow):

An unusual tow is an A-tow involving unusual circumstances requiring extra time or specialized equipment and should be noted in the Towed Vehicle Report.

  • An unusual tow accrues additional charges in addition to the regular tow rate charged when a driver is required to stay at a scene longer than 15 minutes before hooking up.  This includes excessive maneuvering or waiting at a tow scene.  These charges apply to all of the tows (a-tow, b-tow, administrative), however, do not include courtesy moves, service calls, or sweeping after an accident
  • A heavy-duty tow is any tow requiring the use of large or heavy-duty equipment. When towing a large truck or bus, the towing officer should request heavy-duty equipment.

The towing of any vehicle to the impound lot or another location in the City of Saint Paul requires a submission into the Tow Manager.

Enter unusual tow information for large non-vehicle objects in the Tow Manager. Select "stolen/recovery" for why the vehicle was towed. In the notes section explain the nature of the item towed and the reason it was taken to the impound lot.

Courtesy Move:

A courtesy move is moving a vehicle when it is an obstruction to street work or other city functions.  The vehicle is not impounded or towed, merely moved to the nearest open parking space. The courtesy move should be authorized by a supervisor after considering mitigating factors including cost to the city (movement, possible damage claims, etc.).

A "courtesy tow" shall be entered in the Tow Manager like any vehicle that is being towed. Select other for why the vehicle is towed and other for the location to where the vehicle is towed. Explain in the notes section the location to where the vehicle is towed and left for the owner.

Health Department Tow:

Any abandoned vehicle in an alley or on private property that has expired or no registration, is inoperable or is missing vital parts may be towed by order of the health department through a summary abatement process.

Service Call:

A call made at the request of a police officer for the purpose of changing a tire or giving a battery boost, moving a vehicle a short distance, or changing up to two tires on a police vehicle.

Private Tow:

No police officer is allowed to self-initiate a suggestion or enact a private tow such as:

  • Tow which a contractor performs as a result of being summoned to a scene by a private citizen by telephone.
  • Tow arranged for by a citizen at a scene between citizen and contractor and where the contractor was summoned to the scene by a police officer
  • Contractors making a police tow to a private location will be paid by the owner/operator. In addition, the contractor will submit an invoice signed by the owner/operator indicating the contract price paid, to the Saint Paul Department of Police.

Reporting:

Vehicles or other items described in the above paragraphs are considered property taken into police custody, must be entered into the Tow Manager or Evidence Manager, as necessary, and towed according to established towing procedures.

Revised July 7, 2016

Last Edited: March 21, 2017