Towing Issues: AAA vs. CHP tow, tow truck driver, traffic hazard

Question
Hi -

  My car broke down on the 210 Freeway in Pasadena, Calif. with a broken cell phone during evening rush hour. I was alone and frightened when other drivers made threatening gestures and wanted to call AAA for a tow. I got out and found a phone at a local business and phoned. Later, I found out that the tow company that the CHP uses wouldn't let my AAA tow truck driver tow my car, which is now sitting in an impound lot. I understand that the CHP can tow a "traffic hazard," per the DMV code, but can the tow truck driver take my car out from under the nose of the AAA tow truck driver - ?  

Thanks,

Kathy
Pasadena, CA

Answer
Well in 99% of the cases, a "law enforcement ordered tow" will beat a request for other towing services.
One reason is that most all law enforcement ordered tows have to respond to the location within 20 to 30 minutes of when the call is received from the police department.
Most other tows done without law enforcement orders can take from 1 hour to several hours depending on call volume and other conditions...

BUT do not worry, you can pay for the police ordered tow, and submit the bill to AAA and "THEY SHOULD REMEMBURSE YOU, NONE, SOME, OR ALL" of what you paid out (disclaimer there as each towing plan has different rules)

Also a factor in this might of been, that in most cases AAA requires the member or someone to be there with the keys and the police ordered tows just tow it, even if there are no keys or anyone there...

Hope this helps..