CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Comment: What is the base policy on towing vehicles on base? Recently, I was trying to get my second vehicle on base to the Auto Hobby Shop to have a new transmission installed. When I arrived at the gate I was told that a tow strap wasn't authorized to tow a vehicle on base. I had to then pay $50 dollars to get a flat-bed wrecker to tow my car about three miles to the hobby shop.
I should have been done removing the old transmission and installing the new one in one day. But, because I got turned down at the gate and had to wait for a tow truck it took me two days. I would like to have the policy and requirements of towing a car on base clarified so that others will not have the same problem.
Response: Thank you for your interest in our towing policy. Per Charleston Supplement to Air Force Instruction 31-204, Air Force Motor Vehicle Traffic Supervision, a tow strap by itself is not an authorized equipment item for towing a vehicle on Charleston AFB. A vehicle towed upon a roadway must be towed by means of a tow bar or other rigid device. In addition to the tow bar or rigid device, safety chains, a cable, or equivalent will be utilized to prevent the rigid connection device or tow bar from dropping to the ground in the event of its failure.
Requests for exceptions of the AFI may be addressed to the Security Forces Control Center and can only be granted based on an emergency or other extenuating circumstance. If you have any further questions, please contact the 437th Security Forces assistant operations Officer, John Gunther, 963-3630.