1. A. The Department of Public Safety shall have the power and authority necessary to license, supervise, govern and control wrecker vehicles and wrecker or towing services.

2. B. The Department of Public Safety shall adopt and prescribe such rules as are necessary to carry out the intent of Section 951 et seq. of this title.

   The rules shall state the requirements for facilities, for storage of vehicles, necessary towing equipment, the records to be kept by operators, liability insurance and insurance covering the vehicle and its contents while in storage in such sum and with such provisions as the Department deems necessary to adequately protect the interests of the public, and such other matters as the Department may prescribe for the protection of the public.

3. C. Unless otherwise regulated by the governing body of the political subdivision, the wrecker vehicle used to perform wrecker or towing services requested by a political subdivision of this state for removal of a vehicle from public property for reasons listed in Section 955 of this title shall be from the licensed wrecker or towing service whose location is nearest to the vehicle to be towed. Requests for service may be alternated or rotated among all such licensed wrecker or towing services which are located within a reasonable radius of each other. In cities of less than fifty thousand (50,000) population, all such licensed wrecker or towing services located near or in the city limits of such cities shall be considered as being equal distance and shall be called on an equal basis as nearly as possible.

4. D. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Department and any municipality, county or other political subdivision of this state shall not place any wrecker or towing service upon an official rotation log for the performance of services carried out pursuant to the request of or at the direction of any officer of the Department or municipality, county or political subdivision unless the service meets the following requirements:

   1. 1. Principal business facilities are located within Oklahoma;
   2. 2. Tow trucks are registered and licensed in Oklahoma; and

   3. 3. Owner is a resident of the State of Oklahoma.

      In the event a licensed wrecker or towing service is not located within a county, a wrecker or towing service that is located outside of the county or this state and does not meet the above qualifications may be placed on the rotation log for the county or any municipality or political subdivision located within the county.

      When performing services at the request of any officer, no operator or wrecker or towing service upon the rotation logs shall charge fees in excess of the maximum rates for services performed within this state, including incorporated and unincorporated areas, as prescribed in Section 953.1 of this title.

Laws 1970, SB 214, c. 323, § 2; Amended by Laws 1982, HB 1778, c. 170, § 2, eff. October 1, 1982; Amended by Laws 1983, SB 254, c. 109, § 2, eff. November 1, 1983; Amended by Laws 1986, SB 533, c. 144, § 2, emerg. eff. April 21, 1986; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1939, c. 50, § 2, emerg. eff. April 10, 1995; Amended by Laws 2001, SB 520, c. 255, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 2001 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2002, SB 968, c. 387, § 2 (superseded document available).