1. (1) Authorized wrecker operators for a zone shall be called for service according to the authorized wrecker operator’s placement on the list of authorized wrecker operators for that zone and according to the wrecker classification for the size of the wrecked, disabled, or abandoned vehicle to be towed. The list of authorized wrecker operators for each zone will initially be listed in alphabetical order based on the names of the authorized wrecker operators. Each authorized wrecker operator on the list for a zone will be called for service in succession from the top of the list. Following each call for service to an authorized wrecker operator, the authorized wrecker operator that received the call for service shall be rotated to the bottom of the list, except as provided in subsections (16), (17), or (19) of this rule. An authorized wrecker operator shall respond to a call for service, in accordance with the information provided in the call for service, with a wrecker classified to meet or exceed the size of the wrecked, disabled, or abandoned vehicle to be towed.
2. (2) Wrecker requests will be transmitted to the Florida Highway Patrol so that a call for service may be sent to the authorized wrecker operator then at the top of the list for the zone where the vehicle to be removed is located.
3. (3) A vehicle owner’s or operator’s request that a specific wrecker operator be called to handle that vehicle owner’s or vehicle operator’s vehicle will not change the current position of that wrecker operator on the list of authorized wrecker operators for the zone, if that wrecker operator is an authorized wrecker operator in that zone.
4. (4) The division may cancel a call for service to an authorized wrecker operator at any time. In the event of such a cancellation or a response by an authorized wrecker operator when the authorized wrecker operator renders no service, the authorized wrecker operator that received the cancelled call for services or that responded but rendered no services will not be rotated to the bottom of the list for that zone and will maintain its position on the list. However, if an authorized wrecker operator does not respond to a call for service within thirty (30) minutes after a call for service (or other reasonable time under the exigent circumstances at the scene, as determined by the division) or if the call for service is cancelled because the authorized wrecker operator notifies the division that arrival of a wrecker will be delayed or the authorized wrecker operator cannot respond within a reasonable time pursuant to subsection 15B-9.004(1), F.A.C., the authorized wrecker operator that received such call for service shall be rotated to the bottom of the list.
5. (5) Authorized wrecker operators shall only respond to accidents or remove vehicles involved in an accident within the division’s jurisdiction pursuant to a call for service. In the event of a call to an authorized wrecker operator by someone other than a law enforcement agency, such authorized wrecker operator shall first verify the call through the Florida Highway Patrol troop with jurisdiction in county in which the vehicle is located before proceeding to the scene.
6. (6) All calls for service to authorized wrecker operators shall be without cost to the division. Authorized wrecker operators shall have no more than one day and one night telephone number. An authorized wrecker operator shall notify the division of any change of telephone numbers necessary for the authorized wrecker operator to receive calls for service.
7. (7) Authorized wrecker operators shall respond to calls for service twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. An authorized wrecker operator must respond to a call for service within 5 minutes after the call for services is received and indicate whether or not the authorized wrecker operator will respond to the scene as requested.
8. (8) If the authorized wrecker operator does not respond to the call for service and indicate whether or not the authorized wrecker operator will respond to the scene as requested within 5 minutes of the call for service, the call for service to that authorized wrecker operator shall be cancelled, that authorized wrecker operator shall be rotated to the bottom of the list, and a call for service shall be sent to the next authorized wrecker operator on the list for the zone or, if no other authorized wrecker operator in that zone is available, to an authorized wrecker operator in an adjacent zone.
9. (9) Authorized wrecker operators are prohibited from contacting the Florida Highway Patrol to ascertain their current placement on the rotation list.
10. (10) Out-of-zone wrecker requests are permitted in the event of an emergency or the absence of an authorized wrecker operator for the zone that has a wrecker of the needed classification to handle the wrecked, disabled, or abandoned motor vehicle.
11. (11) If there is not an authorized wrecker operator in a zone, one or more authorized wrecker operators from an adjacent zone may be called into a zone that has no authorized wrecker operators.
12. (12) In the event of specialized recovery requirements not otherwise met by the authorized wrecker operators within the given zone, the division may call specialized recovery equipment on a nearest available basis.
13. (13) For multiple car accidents involving multiple wrecked or disabled vehicles, the authorized wrecker operator next on the list for the zone will be advised in the call for service of the number of vehicles needing to be removed. The authorized wrecker operator will be given the option of removing all of the wrecked or disabled vehicles to be removed if the authorized wrecker operator maintains the number of approved drivers and wreckers to accomplish removal within the zone without having to return to the scene. If that authorized wrecker operator lacks the capacity within the zone to remove all of the vehicles, that authorized wrecker operator shall receive a call for service and additional authorized wrecker operators shall receive calls for service as needed from the list of authorized wrecker operators for the zone or, if needed from an adjacent zone or zones. Authorized wrecker operators, which maintain one or more Class C wreckers in a particular zone, may respond to a call for service for multiple Class C wreckers by utilizing approved Class C wreckers owned by that operator from adjacent zones or by using approved Class C wreckers from another authorized wrecker operator with one or more Class C wreckers located in the same or adjacent zones, provided that the response can be made within thirty (30) minutes after a call for service (or other reasonable time under exigent circumstances at the scene, as determined by the division). The first authorized wrecker operator on the list of authorized wrecker operators for the zone will have a choice of wrecked vehicles. If the first authorized wrecker operator on the list for the zone does not arrive on the scene within thirty (30) minutes after a call for service (or other reasonable time under exigent circumstances at the scene, as determined by the division), the investigating trooper may assign vehicles to responding and available wreckers provided by other authorized wrecker operators that have responded to the call for service. The first wrecker on the scene may be required by the investigating trooper to move vehicles from the roadway, and such movement will not affect the choice of wrecked vehicles by authorized wrecker operators.
14. (14) Wrecker files and wrecker logs shall be maintained in electronic form by or on behalf of the division.
15. (15) An authorized wrecker operator may request to be taken temporarily off the list of authorized wrecker operators for a zone once within a 90-day period for not more than thirty (30) days by sending a letter or e-mail addressed to the troop commander.
16. (16) If an authorized wrecker operator responds to a call for service pursuant to these rules and removal of the vehicle is not required, the authorized wrecker operator which renders services rather than removing a vehicle shall not be rotated to the bottom of the list of authorized wrecker operators for that zone but shall retain its current position on the list of authorized wrecker operators for the zone.
17. (17) If an authorized wrecker operator responds to a call for service and the vehicle removed is a bicycle and no other type of a vehicle, the authorized wrecker operator shall not be rotated to the bottom of the list of authorized wrecker operators for that zone but shall retain its current position on the list of authorized wrecker operators for that zone.
18. (18) For a period of at least one year from the date of the rendering of services to a vehicle, as provided in subsections (16) or (17), the authorized wrecker operator shall retain a record of the name, driver’s license number, address, and telephone number of the operator of the vehicle, the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle if different from the operator, and the make, model and vehicle identification number of the vehicle which was assisted by the authorized wrecker operator. This information shall be provided to the division upon request for verification. Providing false information to the division concerning the services rendered to the vehicle or the identification of the vehicle owner or vehicle operator shall result in the removal of the authorized wrecker operator from the list of authorized wrecker operators for the zone pursuant to subsection 15B-9.007(5), F.A.C.
19. (19) When an authorized wrecker operator responds to a call for service to remove an abandoned vehicle, except for a vehicle which has been reported to a law enforcement agency as a stolen vehicle, the authorized wrecker operator shall not be rotated to the bottom of the list of authorized wrecker operators for that zone, but shall retain its position on the list of authorized wrecker operators for the zone.

Rulemaking Authority 321.051 FS. Law Implemented 321.051, 321.05(1) FS. History–New 1-6-26.