The short answer is: yes, and often very quickly.

Atlanta’s rush hour is the stuff of legends-and not the good kind, either. The last thing you need when you’re bumper-to-bumper on the Downtown Connector or I-285 is for your car to suddenly fail.

If you are stranded in the middle of a freeway lane, or for that matter a busy shoulder, during peak traffic, you are posing a significant safety hazard. For the sake of the safety of all persons on the road, law enforcement officials can have your car removed instantly.

At Westside Atlanta Towing, we understand that a breakdown is stressful enough without the fear of a surprise tow. Here is everything you need to know about getting towed in Atlanta’s rush hour.

When will the police authorize a tow?

In the State of Georgia, law enforcement – be it the Georgia State Patrol or local police – and agencies such as the Georgia Department of Transportation have well-defined authority for the removal of a vehicle when it obstructs traffic or creates a hazard.

Any vehicle that is disabled during rush hour is an immediate hazard.

Blocking a Lane: If your car is in a travel lane, a tow will be authorized almost instantly. They need to clear the road to prevent major accidents and gridlock.
On the Shoulder/Emergency Lane: Even if you’re pulled over, if you are on a busy stretch of highway or blocking an emergency lane, a law enforcement officer or GDOT employee can authorize immediate removal if your car is a threat to public safety or an impediment to mitigating congestion. O.C.G.A. § 40-11-11
The Quick Clearance Mandate: Metro Atlanta works on the policy of “quick clearance”. The objective is to remove wreckage and disabled vehicles from the roads quickly so as not to cause more delay and accidents.

In other words, if you break down on a major Atlanta road during 7:00-9:00 a.m. or 4:00-7:00 p.m., expect the authorities to dispatch a tow truck quickly.

Your Two Best Options When You Break Down

First, and most importantly, your safest course of action if your car dies in traffic is to prioritize safety.

Option 1: Wait for a Public Authority Tow (Non-Consensual)

When a police officer or GDOT calls a tow, it is considered a non-consensual tow because you, the driver, did not make the call.

Who Tows It? The police will call the towing company presently on their rotation or contract for that area (such as the HERO units on the interstates).
What Happens Next? You will be taken to the police impound lot or holding lot of a contracted tow company. You will then need to retrieve your vehicle, while paying the mandated state and local fees towing, daily storage, administrative fees, and sometimes traffic citations.
Downside: You have no control over where your car will go and you pay mandated, often higher rates set for public service tows.

Option 2: Call Westside Atlanta Towing (Consensual)

If you can safely pull to a legal and relatively safe area—even a side street exit—call Westside Atlanta Towing immediately at (770) 276-0159 before a police officer has a chance to dispatch an unwanted tow.

Who Tows It? You call us directly. This is a consensual tow.
What Happens Next? We can tow your vehicle to the mechanic, home or body shop of your choice, immediately. We can frequently arrive on the scene much quicker than a rotation wrecker, putting you in a better position regarding the situation and destination of your vehicle.
The Upside: You choose a local, trusted company yourself, and you decide where the car goes. That saves you from the hassle and impound fee of an authority-ordered tow.

Westside Atlanta Towing’s Rush Hour Breakdown Checklist

Safety First: If your car can move at all, try to coast it completely off the road or into the right-most emergency lane. NEVER remain in a travel lane.
Signal Your Problem: Activate your emergency flashers. If safe to do so, leave your car on the side away from traffic and wait behind a barrier.
Call Us First: If you are not in the middle of the highway, call Westside Atlanta Towing at (770) 276-0159. We need your exact location: mile marker, street name, nearest exit.
Cooperate with Authorities: If a police or GDOT unit arrives first and orders a tow, cooperate fully. Once the car is cleared, you can get in touch with us to arrange the next move from the impound lot.

A breakdown in Atlanta rush hour is a nightmare, but knowing your rights and having a plan—like keeping our number on speed dial—changes it all.

Don’t let a breakdown become an expensive impoundment. Depend on Westside Atlanta Towing for quick, efficient, and courteous service when you need it most. We’ll get your vehicle out of the danger zone and to safety.

Need a tow now? Call Westside Atlanta Towing now at (770) 276-0159!