FYI, if you get a flat or run out of gas during the commute hours, you can get free service from roaming tow trucks. I picked up a nail somewhere (gawd, there goes another $180) and noticed HWY 101 was a bit bumpier than usual. Thinking I had a flat, I let go of the wheel for a couple of seconds. SVT went straight as an arrow, so didn't think too much about having a flat after that - until...
About 100 yards later, some dude in a silver somethingorother flags me down and points to the shoulder. I'm a half mile from my exit. The only place to pull over is right in front of a handy CHP officer, who had someone pulled over for speeding. What a break!
I sent my friend over to attract the cop's attention while I began pulling the spare that that stupid little jack that came with the car. As I'm dinking with the jack, the cop comes over and tells me to go sit on the side of the road while he calls a tow. Apparently cops don't like people to change flats on the driver's side during commute traffic. Too dangerous.
A tow truck came out and the driver put the spare on my car, telling me "No charge". He hands me a card to fill out and leaves. I had no idea there was such a great service available to commuters in California.
Free service = Good.
