AAA offers free ride, tow tonight

TUSCALOOSA | While some New Year’s Eve partygoers may need to catch a ride home if they’ve had too much to drink, AAA Alabama wants to provide their cars a way home, too.

AAA is offering a free towing on New Year’s Eve through its Tow-for-Life program, which started 24 years ago.
Tuscaloose police said officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers along with the Alabama State Troopers, although no increase in the number of officers on the road is planned.
The Tow-for-Life program is available to members and non-members of AAA. The program allows for a tow of up to 10 miles for free, but any distance longer than 10 miles will cost $2.50 per mile.
The program provides the driver and the vehicle a ride, and the driver must go home, not to another party or bar. Any passengers will have to find another way home.
Tow truck operators volunteer their time and equipment for the program. In Tuscaloosa, Pop and Sons Towing is the AAA provider.
To request the free tow on New Year’s Eve, call AAA Alabama at 800-222-4357 and ask for Tow-for-Life. The vehicle must be operable to qualify for a free tow.
The AAA 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. The program will operate from 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve until 6 a.m. New Year’s Day.