There are a number of valid reasons for stopping a vehicle and turning on the hazard lights. It also happens that a driver, in order not to waste time on parking, leaves the car on the roadway, turning on the hazard lights. This situation is typical for large cities.
When going to the bank, store, clinic or other business, leaving the car in the wrong place, the driver not only creates inconvenience for other cars, but also risks being left without his own for some time. Can a car with hazard lights on be towed away and what to do in such a situation?
A tow truck Winnipeg near me is a professional service that provides towing and roadside assistance for vehicles that are broken down, involved in accidents, or improperly parked. These services are often available 24/7 and are an essential part of the transportation and emergency response systems, ensuring that vehicles are safely and efficiently moved from one location to another.
Is it Possible to Tow a Car with the Hazard Lights On?
Drivers who abandon their cars on the road with their hazard lights on are acting carelessly. Can a car with hazard lights on be towed away? This situation is quite possible if there were no legal grounds for parking in the wrong place.
The rules provide for emergency switching on of headlights during towing of a vehicle, road accidents, blinding by bright light, boarding and disembarking children, and forced stopping in a prohibited place.
Valid Reasons for a Forced Stop
The reason for a forced stop of a vehicle may be a technical malfunction, a danger created by the cargo being transported, the condition of the driver or passenger, or obstacles on the road. Examples that meet the listed points:
- A flat tire or smoke coming out from under the hood.
- The cargo in the truck bed has shifted, there is a danger of it falling overboard. Other problems with the cargo that pose a danger to driving the vehicle.
- The driver has health problems (dizzy, heart pain, etc.) and cannot drive the vehicle.
- Inappropriate behavior of a passenger that poses a danger to the driver.
- An obstacle on the road in the form of fallen branches or a tree.
The hazard warning lights are also turned on in a number of other cases when it is necessary to warn drivers about the danger that a vehicle may pose. When a vehicle is forced to stop in a prohibited place, the driver must not only turn on the hazard lights, but also put up an emergency stop sign and take measures to tow the car to a permitted place.
Can a car with hazard lights on be towed away if the reason for the stop does not meet the points on the list? It will not only be towed away, but a fine will also be issued for the violation and transportation to the parking lot.
Fines for Parking in Prohibited Places The Presence of a Vehicle in a Prohibited Place, Even with the Hazard Lights on, is Punishable by a Fine. Such Places are:
- parking for disabled vehicles – 5 thousand rubles;
- pedestrian crossing or close (less than 5 m) distance to it – 1 thousand rubles;
- sidewalk – 1 thousand rubles;
- public transport stops and taxi stands – 1 thousand rubles;
- tram tracks – 1.5 thousand rubles;
- second row or further from the edge of the roadway – 1.5 thousand rubles;
- tunnel – 2 thousand rubles;
- parking in an area where signs with the sign “Tow truck in operation” are installed and in operation — 1.5 thousand rubles.
The driver of a vehicle that obstructs other vehicles on the road will be fined 2 thousand rubles. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the amount of all the listed fines is 3 thousand rubles. In each case described above, the vehicle will be towed to a penalty area.
Features of Vehicle Evacuation
The vehicle cannot be towed under certain conditions:
- before the tow truck starts moving;
- in the presence of a driver who is able to drive the vehicle;
- after the reason for which the vehicle was detained has been eliminated.
The absence of a license is not a reason for confiscating a vehicle. If the driver does not have a license, its presence is checked in the database. The fine for losing a driver’s license is 500 rubles. If there is no license, then the detention of the car is considered lawful.
How is the Evacuation Going?
The evacuation of a vehicle must be carried out in accordance with the regulations and includes a number of actions. First, a protocol is drawn up, which is signed by the traffic police inspector and the driver of the detained vehicle, if he is present.
If the driver is absent or does not sign the protocol, witnesses are invited and filming is conducted. The period of detention of the vehicle begins from the moment the document is drawn up.
The protocol includes the details of the traffic police inspector who draws it up, information about the car and the owner, an inventory of the property inside the car visible through the window, and if the driver is present, all the property.
External damage and malfunctions at the time of the car’s detention are described. All access points to the car are sealed. There are separate prices and tariffs for different sizes of detained vehicles, storage periods and other aspects.
What to do in Such a Situation
If the driver is intoxicated, does not have a license, or the car is faulty, he will not be able to pick up the car. In this case, you should:
- independently arrange for a tow truck to arrive to deliver the vehicle to your territory;
- transport a vehicle with another driver;
- troubleshoot the problem yourself.
After the fact of the vehicle detention has occurred, the inspector issues a document allowing its return to the owner. Issuance is also possible upon confirmation of ownership. You can pick up the car from the parking lot without paying a fine and special parking services.
You can pay the fine or challenge it in court later. Roadside assistance service is a service that provides help to drivers and their vehicles when they experience issues or breakdowns while on the road.
This service is typically offered by auto insurance companies, automobile clubs, and other specialized service providers, ensuring that drivers are not left stranded in the event of a car emergency.