EDITOR’S NOTE: This column regularly appears on Thursdays but is running one day late because of the holidays. It will return to its regular rotation next month.

I was approached last week with a question about towing private vehicles.

The question was, “Can you legally pull a vehicle out of the ditch using a private vehicle and a tow strap?”

They then asked, “If the vehicle is disabled and they need to get the vehicle home, can the tow strap be used to tow the vehicle home instead of calling a tow truck?”

As it relates to a private vehicle towing another private vehicle down the roadway, under MCL 257.721, it discusses the requirements for a passenger vehicle or pickup truck towing another vehicle.

In section (2) it states, “The drawbar or other connection between 2 vehicles, 1 of which is towing or drawing the other on a highway, shall not exceed 15 feet in length from 1 vehicle to the other. If the connection consists of a chain, rope, or cable, there shall be displayed upon the connection a red flag or other signal or cloth not less than 12 inches both in length and width.”

The issue we see most frequently in law enforcement is that people tend to just string one tow strap or chain on a vehicle and start towing. There is no red flag or signal displayed as required in this statute. The other problem that arises from people towing a private vehicle with another private vehicles is the control of the vehicle being towed.

Section (3) states, “A vehicle … drawn by a vehicle shall be attached to the vehicle with forms of coupling devices in a manner so that when the combination is operated in a linear alignment on a level, smooth, paved surface, the movement of the towed or drawn vehicle … does not deviate more than 3 inches to either side of the path of the towing vehicle that tows or draws it. The vehicle or trailer shall also be connected to the towing vehicle by suitable safety chains or devices … Each chain or device and connection used shall be of sufficient strength to haul the vehicle or trailer when loaded.

With section (3,) you are not able to tow a vehicle with the single tow strap or chain strung to the full length, as it results in the towing vehicle making the corner at an intersection and then the vehicle being towed following it up, which disregards the rule against the drawn vehicle deviating more than 3 inches.

If you are found to be towing a vehicle in an improper method, you could be cited with a civil infraction.

As for towing a private vehicle out of the ditch, there is no statute that states you cannot pull a vehicle from the ditch. However, you do have a responsibility to report any accident that happens on a roadway to your local dispatch center for law enforcement to investigate if damage is present. If you are assisting a driver in a situation where the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you can be charged criminally for attempting to cover up the accident for the driver.

Another situation where law enforcement may not allow you to pull a private vehicle out of the ditch and require you to contact a tow truck would be if you are going to put other citizen’s safety at risk.

Ashley Simpson is a Community Service Trooper for the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post. If you have a question for Trooper Simpson, you can email her at asktroopersimpson@gmail.com or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police-Alpena Post, 3283 W. Washington Ave., Alpena, Mich., 49707.