There are two aspects to towing laws, there are the laws which govern the right to tow a vehicle away from where it is parked, this is no simple matter as the vehicle is your property, and the laws which govern how a towing job should be carried out. i.e. laws which apply to towing companies and are intended to  ensure they do their job without endangering other motorists, passersby, the tow techs themselves nor the owners of vehicles towed. In the following paragraphs we bring you the highlights of both types of towing laws as they are enforced in Oakland.

Towing someone's car away is just the same as stealing it if it is not done according to the towing laws which give towing companies the right to take off with something that belongs to someone else.
In most places, in Oakland too, the authorities grant towing companies the right to tow away a vehicle in certain situations. The most common circumstances in which a vehicle is towed away have to do with illegal parking. It is only natural that the law enables authorities to move away a vehicle which is parked in a way which obstructs traffic, in a way which trespasses on another's property or if the vehicle has been abandoned.

In Oakland vehicles parked in no parking zones may be towed away only if there are signs indicating that this may happen. The signs must be posted in a way which leaves no doubt that they are seen by anyone contemplating parking their car within the area the sign applies to.
In order to tow away a vehicle which is parked in a way which trespasses on someone's property the towing company must make extra certain that this is the case, i.e. make sure the person initiating the tow really has the right to ask them to do it.

​Once it is established that the tow is legal there remains the matter of making certain that it be done safely. In a perfect world it would be possible to just leave it all up to the tow techs and towing company owners but in the world we live in authorities must draft rules and regulations and then enforce them.
There are rules and regulations which govern the way a tow truck should be rigged. Towing a vehicle is an operation, in which great forces are exerted, it is essential that tow trucks used by towing companies are ones fit for the job. There are also rules intended to make sure towing companies maintain their tow trucks properly.

​There are a lot of risks involved in a tow truck driver’s life. Being on the road and towing vehicles at different sizes is no joke, even if most of us would see it as an easy career. Time and time again, there are tow truck drivers who were involved in an accident caused by another driver or simply his mistake of manipulating the vehicle itself. Tow truck drivers are the superheroes on the road who rescue anyone experiencing a car crash, faulty engine or a vehicle breakdown. These individuals may not be valued most of the time, but as citizens, we have to be responsible drivers so that their operation is done well.

The busy streets, heavy working loads and longer driving hours are just few of the factors that caused tow truck drivers’ exhaustion. It is not difficult to be driving and maneuvering a vehicle with another vehicle on top of it, that is why, we have to take into consideration that these people are also get tired and stressed. When we see them on the road, let us be polite in giving them time to drive the tow truck to its designated location.

Tow truck drivers work on longer hours and most of them are available in an on-call basis. This would mean that even on bad weather conditions, tow truck drivers are still working when people need them. They have to tow a vehicle successfully without causing accidents. Thus, it is important to appreciate their efforts and give them a little space they deserve on the road.

No matter how heavy or big the vehicle is, towing companies have a particular truck for it. They need to carry these vehicles slowly but surely. They also have to ensure that they do not cause accident or chaos within the road. That is why, it is important to slow down a bit when you see a tow truck driving on the same road you drive.

Most importantly, tow truck drivers go on the same road as we do. They do not receive special treatment on the road because they are not like hospital transportations. In order to have a smooth and problem free driving, let us be road courteous with tow trucks. Give them the space and time to maneuver their vehicle when we see them along the way. ​

As awareness to protecting the environment grows you too may be feeling you want to reduce the impact you're responsible for by making sure your car is as environmentally friendly as it could be. In this blog post we bring you some pointers on how you can make your car "greener".

​A well maintained vehicle is inevitable much more environmentally friendly than a poorly maintained one. You should always get regular tune-ups, oils changes, filter replacing, tires changes etc. on time and as instructed by the manufacturer. This way you'll reduce gas emissions  to a min as well as keep fuel consumption low (which will also make your car more cost effective for you). 

​The way you drive has a great impact on fuel consumption and mechanical wear out. If you can train yourself to drive smart you will reduce gas emissions, burn less fuel and need less work done on your car. Avoid constant accelerating and decelerating, try to drive at constant economical speeds. Most cars display fuel consumption data, use such displays to ensure your driving is as echo friendly as it can be.

​Using your car only when you really need to is a great way to lower your impact on the environment. Just think twice before you get behind the wheel  and start the engine. You may decide to walk, ride your bike or use some form of public transport. Car pooling with coworkers is also a great way to save on millage.

​Probably the two systems in your car which most influence how "green" it is are the fuel system and the emission system. An efficient, properly maintained fuel system will feed the engine with just the right amount of gas and air mixture, this, along with good spark plugs and a tuned up engine will allow the engine to supply the power you need while burning the least amount of gas possible.
Once the gas is burnt in the engine the emission system is responsible for controlling what and how is released into the atmosphere.

In summation, if you want a car that's as echo friendly as it can be keep it well maintained, use it only when you really need to and drive it in a responsible, economical way.  

We don't mean to alarm you, though actually, we kind of do. There is a very good reason for us to do so, as we want to encourage you to take some notes and measures in order to protect your car from being hacked. Yeah, that's right, cars can be susceptible to hacking.

Automotive and security technologies have greatly evolved over the years. Unfortunately, so have thieves. If not so long ago they had to break into the car with a crowbar, these days they have electronic measures to take over your vehicle from afar. Vehicles today are almost totally controlled by electronic and computer systems, which are comprised of dozens of microchips spread throughout the car. This assembly of microchips basically makes the entire structure of the operating system of the automobile.
In modern cars, you don't really have to physically be inside the car to control it. Advanced remote control options enable car owners to gain control over locking or unlocking doors, locking or unlocking windows, controlling tire pressure, controlling the ignition system and the multimedia system, as well as being able to perform other activities regarding their car.
The problem is that as wireless connection technology advances, so do the means of thieves and burglars become more diverse and allow them to take control over your car from afar.

Automobile manufactures agree on several security means you would be best advised to use in order to keep your car from being hacked:

When you buy a modern car, or if you already have one in possession, you should check with the manufacturer about your car's wireless system and about how you can properly use it in order to prevent unauthorized use.

The auto shop market is filled with charlatans and people with less than honest intentions that can cause a lot of damage to your car because of poor performance, but that can also use your personal information that's stored in your car systems in malicious ways, such as passing on security systems details for the right price. Be sure to attend only reliable and recommended auto shops, even if you have to pay a little bit more, it's certainly worth it.

Buying aftermarket parts puts you at risk, because if you don't purchase them from a formal and confirmed supplier, you just might get a cat in a bag.

Every car owner has a file of auto related documents that include private information like name, address, and even security information that needs to be kept away from eyes other than those of the vehicle's owner. Put your documents in a safe place and don't leave them in the vehicle for others to watch, like when putting your car in the auto shop.

When you are hiring a towing company, it is important to set some rules for yourself. Towing your vehicle imposes a lot of risks, especially when the weather conditions are not good or the tow trucks are not durable enough. Thus, pay attention on these set of rules before getting into a towing service. This will guide you in choosing the right company anywhere you go.

Technological advancements in towing have made towing operations, smoother, more secure, and more reliable through the years. These advancements have helped provide solutions to problems usually encountered while the tow vehicle is hauling a vehicle on the road, such as the vehicle unlatching from the tow vehicle, the brake lights between the tow vehicle and trailer not being in sync, and the tow truck driver being unaware of what’s happening to the vehicle that’s being towed.

Even more importantly, these technological advancements prevent problems from even occurring and give peace of mind to both the tow truck driver and the customer. Some of the newest equipment and state of the art technologies manufactured by Valley and which are being employed by towing companies today will be discussed in detail.

We think that it is important for consumers to be more informed about towing technologies—once you know about the new technologies, it’ll be easier for you to make decisions for your vehicle and which towing company to call in case you ever need a service. Furthermore, basic knowledge on these technologies can come in handy in case of emergencies.

Drivers on the road have to keep their eyes on everything. In driving school you learn that every 3 to 5 seconds you need to glance down at your speedometer and check your mirrors. If you ever turn at an intersection without a stoplight or stop sign, you need to look both directions several times before driving. And whenever you’re on the road, you have to be constantly aware of everything around you from other drivers to road hazards to weather conditions to stray animals running past. How do you keep track of everything? When you can’t keep your eyes on everything, 3D cameras can be used for road safety.

3D cameras enhance road safety by providing 3D imagery of the road around you. While normally you cannot keep your eyes on everything and even the safest drivers still have blind spots, a 3D imaging system gives you the spatial awareness you need to see everything going on around you so that you maintain control over your situation. It’s particularly helpful for drivers of large vehicles, buses, and trucks whose blind spots and limited views are greater. Additionally, it allows police and highway patrol to better determine safety hazards around them (including speeding vehicles and overloaded vehicles) so that they can ensure that the roads are safest for drivers. 

No way of seeing is quite like our natural eyesight. We try to capture images on camera or film and it’s never the same as seeing it in person. That’s because our two eyes, set apart on our faces, see the world from two different angles and our brain interprets these angles to produce a 3D image. That way, we’re more spatially aware and can manage things like catching a ball or determining how close a dangerous road hazard is. 3D cameras in use for road safety mimic this using a system of cameras to do the same thing – shooting different angles so that a clear 3D picture of the scene is formed.