A. The Washington State Patrol shall have the primary duty to inspect vehicles operating under the authority of this chapter. However, all vehicles operated under the authority of this chapter shall be available for inspection at any reasonable time and place by the chief of police, or the police chief’s designee. The chief of police or police chief’s designee shall inspect a vehicle to determine cleanliness, proper and safe equipment, good appearance, safe operating condition and shall in all cases be the sole judge in this determination. Further, the chief of police or police chief’s designee shall at the time of this inspection ascertain that the vehicle is licensed pursuant to this chapter and properly bonded for public protection and that the applicant has obtained a “Letter of Appointment” pursuant to WAC 204-70.

B. If the chief of police or police chief’s designee determines during this inspection that the condition of any vehicle needs correction, then the chief of police or appropriate designee shall issue to the operator or driver thereof a notice in writing specifying such defects and the defects shall be remedied at a date to be fixed in such notice.

C. The chief of police or designee, upon written notice, shall order any such tow vehicle for hire to cease operation immediately if in the chief of police’s or designee’s determination the vehicle is in an unsafe condition. (Ord. 2546 § 2 (part), 2010: Ord. 1740 § 2, 1993; Ord. 1539 § 1 (part), 1989: Ord. 1271 § 2, 1985: Ord. 577 § 10, 1972).