Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
4.18 Traffic Ancillary Services
4.18.4 Stranded Motorists (Issued : 6/25/07)
A. Many occasions present themselves that call for the immediate removal of a disabled
vehicle from a traveled highway, so further traffic problems and/or the possibility of a
serious collision may be diminished. At the discretion of the officer, the police v ehicle
may be used to move the vehicle to the nearest point of safety if the patrol car is equipped
with push bumpers.
B. Officers may, at their discretion, transport stranded motorists to the nearest convenient
location where assistance may be obtained. However, officers should be certain that
assistance is available. When transporting stranded motorists, officers should give the
dispatcher their starting and ending mileage and their beginning and ending locations.
C. Stranded motorists should not be ab andoned when exposed to a hazardous situation.
Consideration will be given to traffic hazards, location, time of day, weather conditions
and priority of calls for service. This does not preclude placing devices to warn oncoming
traffic and clearing the sce ne if conditions are such that this can be done safely. Officers
should periodically check to ensure the condition does not deteriorate.
D. Officers who assist stranded motorists should remain alert to the following possibilities:
the vehicle in the posse ssion of the motorist has not been authorized for their use; the
vehicle is in unsafe operating condition; the motorist is unlicensed to drive; the motorist
is incapable of safely operating the vehicle and/or the vehicle’s occupants have engaged
in crimina l activity.
E. Officers may provide assistance to motorists in obtaining tow services, if needed, as
outlined in 4.18.3, “Tow Service.”