AAA offering free towing on New Year’s Eve
Published 9:23 pm Monday, December 29, 2008
Those who are too drunk to drive home on New Year’s Eve have a way to get home safely.
For the 22nd year in a row, AAA of Alabama is sponsoring its “Tow-for-Life” campaign, meaning they will tow drivers’ cars back home for free on Wednesday.
AAA spokesperson Clay Ingram said they are trying to achieve two goals. One is to make it safer on the roads by taking impaired drivers off the road. The second is to raise awareness about drinking and driving to make sure everyone plans ahead if they are going to drink.
“We want to encourage people to start thinking about what they are going to do on New Year’s Eve and other nights where they plan to drink,” Ingram said. “If we can get one impaired driver off the road, we feel like this event is worth it.”
Any driver who is going to be drinking on New Year’s Eve is urged to put the phone number 1-800-222-4357 (1-800-AAA-HELP) in his or her wallet. By calling this number, AAA will have a wrecker service dispatched to take the driver home.
The vehicle must be operable to qualify for a free tow. The operator will ask for the driver’s name, home address, telephone number and exact location of the vehicle and driver.
A tow truck will be dispatched and upon arrival the wrecker driver will ask for identification and the keys to the vehicle.
The vehicle will be towed to the home of the driver or owner if the owner is present.
Towing is provided at no charge up to 10 miles. After that, there will be a $2.50 per mile charge.
“Anything paid will just go to cover the wrecker drivers,” Ingram said.
Ingram said AAA is providing the service across the whole state including Chilton County. The service is open to both AAA members and non-members.
“There are no strings attached to this service,” Ingram said. “We just want to get impaired drivers off the road.”