Towing ordinance amended
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - The Township Committee amended Manalapan's towing ordinance with a unanimous vote at its April 11 meeting.

The ordinance was scheduled for adoption March 14, but it was tabled following a public hearing after the committee members heard from tow truck operators who contract with Manalapan to provide certain towing services, for example, at the scene of motor vehicle accidents.

Among the complaints heard at the time was that the amendment contained no provisions for when an operator might have to use special equipment to tow a vehicle, nor did it contain a provision for cost of living increases.

Township Attorney Caroline Casa-grande called the ordinance amendment necessary to tighten restrictions on vendors who provide towing services in Manalapan.

She said standards for storage of any impounded vehicle had been the focus of the ordinance in order to ensure that anyone who tows a vehicle in Manalapan would be certified and that the public would be guaranteed vendors with fees established by ordinance and storage conditions that are outlined in the ordinance.

Casagrande worked with Manalapan police officer Robert Kelly to draw up the amendments that include performance standards and insurance requirements.

Since the committee tabled the ordinance several weeks ago, Casagrande said, she met with several towing company operators. She said a mutually acceptable amendment to the ordinance was finally achieved.

"We're all comfortable that we have come to a reasonable agreement," she told the committee.

No member of the public spoke on the ordinance during the public hearing on the amendments. The committee then voted to adopt the changes.