Bernalillo County, NM Business Licensing & Operations: Towing Companies (2026)
Key Facts
- Response window
- 30 minutes (Class A/B wreckers)
- Storage yard
- 6-ft fence, holds 125 vehicles
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
- Enforcer
- Sheriff's Dept. / County Manager
- Removal penalty
- 1-year rotation ban for fraud
Summary
Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies can order a non-consent tow when a stranded vehicle's owner can't be found; a rotation-list wrecker responds within 30 minutes or the county calls a backup.
In the event a sworn member of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department or other designated county employee has cause to remove any vehicle or motor vehicle from any location within the county, and the owner or person responsible for the vehicle cannot be found, is incapacitated, or has no preference for a particular wrecker, the county's communications center shall so notify the wrecker on call for the sector in which such vehicle or motor vehicle is located.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 92).
Full Breakdown
The Wrecker Ordinance (Bernalillo County Code §§ 14-301: 14-323) governs sheriff-initiated non-consent tows in the unincorporated county. Class A/B wreckers rotate through three geographic sectors (north, south, east of the Sandias); Class C/D wreckers share one countywide list. A rotation wrecker must reach the scene within 30 minutes or the Sheriff's communications center dispatches the next wrecker on call. Participating wreckers need a PRC warrant, insurance naming the county, and a fenced storage yard holding at least 125 vehicles. Vehicles release only to someone showing ID and proof of ownership. Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, and Tijeras enforce their own towing rules, not this article.
Violations & Fines
Removal from the wrecker rotation list for tariff overcharges, radio scanning, storage violations, or repeat complaints; reapplication barred for one year. Article violations also carry the Code's general penalty: up to $300 and 90 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply if my car was towed in Albuquerque?
How do I get my vehicle back after a sheriff-ordered tow?
What if the on-call wrecker never shows up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bernalillo County
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