Las Cruces, NM Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)

Las Cruces Code of Ordinances Sec. 29-7 (the Wrecker Rotation Program Ordinance) governs towing performed at the request of the Las Cruces Police Department, not private-property or consent tows. A wrecker company must have its principal place of business within Doña Ana County and no more than ten miles outside city limits, own and operate its own towing vehicles, carry public liability, on-the-hook and garage keepers' liability insurance naming the city as additional insured, and use the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission tariff schedule for privately owned vehicles the department calls out.

Registered companies submit a registration form and fee to the chief of police, and once approved sign a towing contract that places the company name and phone number on the towing list. , and dispatch selects companies in sequence. A company must reach the scene within 30 minutes of a request; if it does not respond by phone or within that 30-minute window, the next name on the list is called and a violation is logged against the non-responding company for that contract period. Towed vehicles cannot leave Doña Ana County or go more than ten miles outside city limits unless the owner or a police officer requests it, and any such request must be documented on the towing report.

Companies must be available 24 hours a day, equip every truck with 360-degree flashing blue or amber lights, and permit the chief of police to inspect vehicles and storage facilities during normal business hours. Wrecker owners, agents or employees may not solicit towing contracts at accident scenes without being called there by police or the person involved.