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Is authorization required before towing in California?

To prevent wrongful towing and ascertain the property owner has authorized the towing company to confiscate the vehicle, the towing laws in California require that there is a written authorization before the towing can happen. Our writer got some information from Auto Towing in San Francisco regarding the legalities of written authorization.

Cartoon tow truck towing a vehicle

The written authorization must contain the following information;

-The time that the authorization was made.

– The actual time when the vehicle was first observed

– Reason for the tow

– Identity details and the address of the person authorizing the towing.

-The vehicle details of the car being towed.

In a case where the legal authorization is not obtained, the company is responsible for up to four times of the storage and towing fees. When evaluating predatory towing in California, the major issue which occurs is the written authorization.

Police notification

The towing company must notify the police that it has your vehicle. It is also the company obligation to report each and every car that has been towed. This should happen immediately after the car has been towed such that when the owner calls to report, the police can say the car is confiscated and not stolen.

The reporting should take a maximum of 30 minutes or else the company owes the storage and towing fees.

Requirement of storage requirements

The towing company is not supposed to haul your vehicle for more than 10 miles, unless there is a written authorization from the police. This might occur where storage facilities are not found within 10 miles.

Every storage facility must have a public pay phone. The opening time should be between 8 to 5pm Monday-Friday. On after hours, holidays, and the weekends, the facility should be in a position to release the vehicle even though this might attract an additional gate fee.

Claiming your vehicle back

Before paying for anything you must be provided with a copy of written authorization. The company must also provide you with the notification which states that; “if you believe that the towing was wrongful, please contact the police or the prosecuting agency”. The right telephone numbers must be there on that notification. Also, the notice must be in the popular language spoken there or in English.

The storage facilities don’t accept check unless is from the insurance so make sure you pay your fines using cash or credit card.

 

Do you have a caravan that you use for towing? There are mirror requirements and many others when towing one. Check the article out to read about some of the regulations.

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Types of caravan towing mirrors

caravan towing mirrorsWhile some caravan doesn’t require towing mirrors, many do. It is a legal requirement that every car/caravan should have at least two mirrors. Things get tough when it comes to towing. Maybe your vehicle is wider than the unit you are towing. It is your obligation to buy and install towing mirrors. most people think that just because they are using a 4 by 4 vehicle, they don’t require the towing mirrors.such a mistake can cost you more than the price of towing mirrors. A good set of mirrors should give you a good service on your towing life. It is therefore a good idea to purchase towing mirrors designed for a wide range of towing vehicles as possible. Here is a list of the best caravan towing mirrors.

The “e”

Before buying the towing mirrors you should look for an “e” marking. This is to make sure that they meet the European or international regulations. The markings can be found on the mirror’s casing. For instance, a lower case “e” marking means that the mirrors meet the European standards while the E marking signifies the international standards.However, the mirrors can have both markings of which it is still okay.

The Aero 3

These are the UK bestselling towing mirrors. They were introduced in 2007. They fit almost every towing vehicle including the marques such as BMW X3 &5. They are also improved to reduce vibrations even at high speeds. Additionally, they come in different formats; flat or convex, and wide enough even for the widest caravans.

MGI towing mirrors

The mirrors are a brand of Milenco, a market leader. They are occasioned for limited towing. They come with flat or convex formats. They are available in XL sizes and just like all the Milenco mirrors, the spares are available. Also, they come with a storage bag and a safety glass.

RCT 1420

Having a convex mirror gives you a wide area of vision. The ring clear view mirrors aren’t too heavy and they have an adjustable strap which offer stability. In addition, the mirror has a blind spot on its outer edge.

Know more about what the laws say about towing a boat and how to ensure the safety of a boat when you are towing a boat.

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What the law says about towing a boat

The laws on boat towing can cause controversy and heated debates on different states. According to how serious and strict these laws can be, it is therefore advisable to get informed on the laws on the state you are driving through. Here are some of the things that you need to know before towing your boat on some states.

The towing speed

Every time a driver increases the speed; he/she increase the chances of causing an accident. Not only in towing but any other driving. If possible try to keep with the speed limits provided and advised by the law. Driving at very high speed is exponential lethal and dangerous and it can cost lives. Manycountries have towing speeds lowered than the normal speeds limits. For instance, in Alaska, the speed limit for towing vehicles and trailers is 72 kph. However, states like South Dakota and Mexico the towing speed is 120 kph on major highways.

The boat lengthand the height

Although many states have not given a specified length of the boat to be towed, some states have, one of them being North Carolina. The strict laws on North Carolina only allow the boat to be 10-12 meters of length and a width of 2.6 meters. Any wider would be catastrophic on a two lane road especially if two boats happen to pass each other. Also, the overall length should not go beyond 16.2 meters in most states (the overall length is the length of the vehicle and the boat end to end). The Michigan state recommends a height of 3.8 to 4.2 meters.

Brakes

Another thing to keep into consideration is the brakes. Brakes are paramount when it comes to towing. Sudden braking can be dangerous especially if you have a huge load behind you. Most states recommend trailer brakes installed if you are towing a boat heavier than the threshold. The threshold can be as low as 1500 pounds which is equivalent to 680 kilograms.

Extras

Some of the extra requirements which are requirements by most states are that safety chains connecting the vehicle and the boat should be short enough not to touch the ground and long enough not to prevent turning.

If you want to tow a boat then you must know about the laws regarding the towing of a boat. Read about how to ensure the safety of a boat in towing and what the laws say about this towing.