§ 12.5-118. Definitions.

The following words or phrases, as used in this article, shall have the following respective meanings as set out in this section, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

After normal business hours, with the exception of the wrecker service rotation program, means between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., weekends, and state and national holidays, or those days and hours other than during which towing is made available by the wrecker business, whichever period is shorter. For purposes of the wrecker service rotation program, "after normal business hours" means between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. seven (7) days a week.

Carrier shall mean a motor vehicle, other than a wrecker, which is equipped to enable the transporting of another vehicle from one location to another.

Heavy duty wrecker shall mean a wrecker that is not less than two and one-half (2½) tons in size and equipped with the necessary equipment to achieve a factory rated lifting capacity of not less than thirty-two thousand (32,000) pounds.

Light-medium duty wrecker shall mean a wrecker that is not less than one (1) ton in size with dual rear wheels and booster brakes and equipped with the necessary equipment to achieve a factory rated lifting capacity of not less than eight thousand (8,000) pounds.

Motor vehicle means any motorized device in, upon, or by which any person or property is, or may be transported or drawn upon any public highway, public right-of-way or public or private property. Motor vehicle shall not include any device propelled solely by human power or which is used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

Operator/attendant means the person driving the wrecker or any person assisting with the operation of the wrecker or storage lot.

Operating zone shall mean the geographic limits of areas of Horry County within which a wrecker or towing service must meet criteria set forth herein to qualify to operate within that geographic area.

Owner means any person owning or having any financial interest in a wrecker business licensed by the county.

Shared parking spaces means those parking areas that are shared by multiple proprietors or multi-residential units comprised of five (5) or more spaces.

Wrecker means any vehicle built and equipped for the purpose of towing, lifting, pulling or otherwise transferring motor vehicles from place to place including, but not limited to, those vehicles that are commonly referred to as "roll-back" or "flatbed" type tow trucks.

Wrecker zone rotation list shall mean a list of wrecker or towing services who have met the requirements of this article qualifying to respond to calls from county law enforcement officers through the Horry County E911 communications department within their designated zones. The list shall be tracked for proper sequencing of wrecker assignments and any deviation annotated with an explanation.

(Ord. No. 72-09, § 1, 11-3-09)