DISQUS

Consumerism Commentary: Free Roadside Assistance, Kind of, Sort of

  • Brandon Barkley · 8 months ago
    I once got help with a flat for free. I did not call a hotline, but a truck owned by the state department of transportation stopped behind me and helped. This service is only available within large cities though.
  • Nate · 8 months ago
    It is too bad that the program is government-run. If it was a volunteer program, I think that I might join.

    Thanks,
    Nate
  • Michelle · 8 months ago
    I'm in Texas and once ran out of gas on I-35 between San Antonio & New Braunfels at midnight (my gas gauge was stuck)...and I called the number and a DPS trooper showed up with a 5 gal gas can for me! The trooper was so nice about it and said the state would prefer I not walk along the highway at night. No charge and I will forever be a fan!
  • Rassah · 8 months ago
    Makes sense. Cheaper for the local government to send out someone to help than to send out someone to clean up and scrape stuff off the pavement.
  • Rick · 8 months ago
    Near as I can tell, NJ does NOT have this. Nothing on my license, nothing on the DMV website.

    AAA is preferable anyway. I've worked with the NJ DMV on multiple things - it's unreliable.

    I like to say to those people who believe that the government can actually do something well to think of 3 things:
    1. Amtrak
    2. The Post Office
    3. The DMV

    Once you get these images fixed in your mind, then wrap around the concept of government run health care. I shudder.
  • VG · 8 months ago
    what state are you in?
  • Julia · 8 months ago
    This is true for Texas (and here they call it DPS, so perhaps this was about the service in Texas).

    I'd recommend those who have AAA memberships or are considering one also look at an alternative membership: http://www.betterworldclub.com/competition/aaa_...

    Please be sure to click the link about AAA's policy agenda, too. You may find that AAA has been doing things that you don't agree with. There are alternatives!

    My parents have AAA and used it a TON when we were kids (flat tires, break downs in the middle of a road trip, one sibling locking the youngest sibling in the car). I am not a member. As a cyclist, i can't imagine supporting AAA.
  • Davosian · 8 months ago
    Can you post a link where to find the services each state provides?
  • Smithee · 8 months ago
    I looked for about an hour, but couldn't find a summary or state-by-state comparison.