Whenever used in this chapter, unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them by this section:

    1. “Emergency Circumstances” means demanding immediate action or attention, for example: vehicle blocking in another vehicle that needs to leave, blocking a business driveway, the vehicle is a hazard or the vehicle is left in an area not designed for vehicle parking.

    2. “Nonconsensual Tows” means the booting or removing of a motor vehicle by towing or pushing from private property at the request of a person who is neither the owner or operator nor agent of the owner or operator of the vehicle.

    3. “Towing Business” means any towing company that, as a matter of business, answers calls for service in the city limits of Sioux City for the purpose of towing a vehicle from a location in Sioux City or to a location in Sioux City.  

    4. “Tow Vehicle Operator” means any individual who operates a tow vehicle as defined in subsection 10.25.020(6).

    5. “Tow Vehicle” means a motor vehicle that is used on the streets of Sioux City for the purpose of towing, pushing or starting other motor vehicles on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis.

    6. “Tow Vehicle Owner” means any person, who either owns, or is the lessee of or is the purchaser under contract of a motor vehicle for use as a tow vehicle under the provisions of this chapter.

    7. “Towing Company” means any person who operates one or more tow vehicles within the city limits of Sioux City.

    8. “Principal Place of Business” shall mean a physical location where appropriate business records can be examined. A post office box is not acceptable.

    9. “Clearly Visible Sign” means a sign or signs that have letters on a contrasting background, a statement indicating that parking by unauthorized vehicles is prohibited by the use of a phrase such as “private property”, “leased parking”, “private parking”, “no parking”, “parking for customers only”, “parking for residents only”, or similar phrase and the words “tow away zone”, “violators vehicles will be towed”, or similar phrase. The sign or signs will be placed so to be readable by those subject to towing. A sign that is 15” wide by 19” high with not less than two (2) inch high letters on a contrasting background bearing a statement indicating that parking by unauthorized vehicles is prohibited by the use of a phrase such as “private property”, “leased parking”, “private parking”, “no parking”, “parking for customers only”, “parking for residents only”, or similar phrase and also in not less than one (1) inch high letters on a contrasting background, the words “tow away zone”, “violators vehicles will be towed”, or similar phrase may be considered a “clearly visible sign”. (Ord. 2004-0232)