The following words and terms, when used in this Chapter, shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Alternate primary storage facility" means an outdoor or indoor storage facility for the sole purpose of storing vehicles towed in accordance with a contract with a municipal or county government.

"Approved wrecker vehicle" means a wrecker vehicle meeting the equipment requirements for the applicable class of vehicle that has been inspected and approved by the Department, and a cab card issued, for use in the provision of wrecker services under any provisions of applicable state law, applicable rules of the Department, applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission rules, or any applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission order.

"Authorized Wrecker Vehicle Operator" means an individual who, by training, experience, or both, meets the knowledge requirements of these rules to operate an approved wrecker vehicle on behalf of a licensed wrecker service and meets the minimum standards of conduct as set forth in these rules.

"Cab card" means the record of the Department's approval for use of an authorized wrecker vehicle.

"Call" means each request for service of an operator resulting in an operator being able to receive compensation for these services.

"Cancellation" means the permanent withdrawal of a cab card, driver card, or wrecker service license as a result of Departmental action for violation(s) of any applicable state law, applicable rules of the Department, applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission rules, or any applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission order, requiring an original application for reinstatement.

"Casualty" means a vehicle towed from the scene of a traffic incident or as a result of a private property impound.

"Class AA wrecker operator" or "AA truck wrecker operator" means any wrecker operator who also meets all the requirements of 47 O.S. § 952(D) for towing for law enforcement agencies. Class AA may also be used for private property towing and consent towing. Class AA must have the ability to tow, recover and haul.

"Commission" means the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Safety, as defined by 47 O.S. § 1-109 and as described in 47 O.S. § 2-102.

"Commissioner's Designee" means the individuals authorized to take official action on behalf of the Department to administer the rules of this Chapter, and the provisions of the Oklahoma Statutes pertaining to wrecker services.

"Corrective action plan" means a document issued to a licensed wrecker service providing actionable steps to come into compliance with these rules. The corrective action plan will, at a minimum, contain a notation of the rule(s) violated, the specific actionable steps to return to conformity with the rules, and a deadline by which the licensed wrecker service must complete the corrective action plan.

"Denial" means the Departmental action taken against an applicant for a wrecker service license, cab card, or driver card as a result of the applicant's failure to meet the requirements of any applicable state law, applicable rules of the Department, applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission rules, or any applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission order.

"Department" means the Department of Public Safety.

"DPS number" means a permanent number assigned to a wrecker operator, by the Department which is personal and unique to the wrecker service.

"Driver card" means the record of the Department's authorization of an individual to operate an approved wrecker vehicle on behalf of a licensed wrecker service.

"Employee" means all full-time, part-time, seasonal, or contract employee of a licensed wrecker service or applicant for a wrecker service license.

"GVWR" means gross vehicle weight rating.

"Licensed wrecker service" means the legal entity, whether a person, partnership, or corporation, functioning as an operator as defined by 47 O.S. § 951(11), to whom a license is issued by the Department for the lawful operation of a wrecker service. A licensed wrecker service may be designated Class AA or Class G, depending on the largest sized vehicles the licensed wrecker service is authorized to tow.

"Nonconsensual tow" means the towing of a vehicle as defined by 47 O.S.§ 951(10).

"Oklahoma Highway Patrol wrecker rotation" means a voluntary rotation(s) of licensed wrecker services meeting the requirements of these rules to provide nonconsensual towing services on behalf of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

"Operator" means any person or legal entity owning or operating a licensed wrecker service.

"Out-of-service" means an authorized wrecker vehicle or authorized wrecker operator is prohibited from operation as a result of non-compliance with any provision of state law, applicable rules of the Department, applicable rules of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, or any applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission order. An operator or vehicle deemed to be out-of-service may not be utilized until the condition is remedied by the licensed wrecker service.

"Owner" means the person or legal entity exercising ultimate authority over a wercker service.

"Place of business" means an approved location of a licensed wrecker service as reflected in the records of the Department.

"Prohibition" means the Departmental action temporarily barring the re-application of a formerly authorized wrecker operator or licensed wrecker service due to a withdrawal of authorization based upon violations of any provision of applicable state law, applicable rules of the Department, applicable rules of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, or applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission orders.

"Renewal period" means the period in which licensed wrecker services are required to submit renewal application for the following calendar year.

"Revocation" means the temporary withdrawal of a wrecker service license for failure to pay assessments required by 47 O.S. § 967.

"Suspension" means the temporary withdrawal of a driver card, cab card, or wrecker service license as a result of Departmental action for violation(s) of any applicable state law, applicable rules of the Department, applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission rules, or any applicable Oklahoma Corporation Commission order.

"Traffic incident" means any circumstance in which a law enforcement officer deems it necessary to have a vehicle(s) towed to maintain orderly flow of traffic. This also includes the order of a law enforcement officer to impound a vehicle.

"Truck wreckers" means every motor vehicle properly designed and equipped according to Department of Public Safety specifications with wrecker body and winch or lifting apparatus suitably designed to safely move, pull or tow wrecked, damaged or disabled trucks, truck-tractors, road tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, buses and/or other vehicles and conveyances that use the highways of the state of Oklahoma. The designation as a truck wrecker shall be used for Class AA-TL wrecker vehicles only.

"Wrecker dolly" means a wheeled device which is used to support one end of a motor vehicle for towing.

"Wrecker service license" means the license issued by the Department as provided by 47 O.S. § 951, et seq.

"Wrecker Services" means the provision of services related to the recovery, towing, storage, and release of towed vehicles to appropriate parties by an individual or corporate entity in accordance with these rules and includes the reasonable and necessary tasks incident thereto.

Amended at 13 Ok Reg 2821, eff 6-28-96

Amended at 15 Ok Reg 3311, eff 7-13-98

Amended at 21 Ok Reg 3011, eff 7-25-04

Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2801, eff 9-12-08

Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2775, eff 7-25-09

Amended at 28 Ok Reg 303, eff 10-19-10 (emergency)

Amended at 28 Ok Reg 2089, eff 7-15-11

Amended at 29 Ok Reg 65, eff 11-1-11 (emergency)

Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1390, eff 7-1-12

Amended at 31 Ok Reg 2335, eff 9-12-14

Amended at 36 Ok Reg 1042, eff 7-25-19

Amended at 37 Ok Reg 2095, eff 9-11-20

Amended at 39 Ok Reg 2094, eff 9-11-22

Amended at 42 Ok Reg, Number 20, effective 7-11-25

Amended at 43 Ok Reg, Number 18, effective 6-11-26