23270.  (a) No person shall commence to tow any vehicle or other
object on any vehicular crossing unless authorized to do so by the
Department of Transportation and unless the towing is done by means
of a tow truck as defined in Section 615.  No person, other than a
member of the California Highway Patrol or an employee of the
Department of Transportation, shall, by means of pushing with another
vehicle, propel any vehicle or object on a vehicular crossing.  No
person, other than an employee of the Department of Transportation,
shall,  on any vehicular crossing, tow any vehicle or other object
except a vehicle or object constructed and designed to be towed by a
vehicle of a type similar to that being used for this purpose.
   (b) The California Transportation Commission shall, by regulation,
establish the maximum towing fee which may be charged by any person
authorized to tow a vehicle pursuant to subdivision (a).  No
authorized person shall charge a fee for towing a vehicle which is in
excess of the maximum fee established by the California
Transportation Commission.
   (c) The Director of Transportation may grant a special permit to
any person to tow any vehicle or object over and completely across
any vehicular crossing when in his or her judgment the towing vehicle
is so constructed and equipped that the vehicle or object can be
towed across the vehicular crossing without endangering persons or
property and without interrupting the orderly traffic across the
vehicular crossing.
   (d) The prohibitions of this section shall apply only on those
vehicular crossings upon which a towing service is maintained by the
Department of Transportation.


23271.  A towing service may be maintained on each vehicular
crossing by the Department of Transportation, and the department may
furnish such service as is necessary to permit the orderly flow of
traffic upon such crossing.  The Department of Transportation may
prescribe and collect reasonable rates for towing services furnished.




23272.  When any vehicle or object on any vehicular crossing, upon
which towing service is maintained, is stopped for any reason and is
obstructing or may obstruct traffic, the vehicle or object shall be
towed by the towing service either to the nearest property of the
Department of Transportation designated for the parking or storing of
vehicles, or to a suitable parking location on a public street or
highway and thereupon left in the custody of the owner or operator of
the vehicle or object, or his agent, or, if no owner, operator, or
agent is present, or if an owner, operator, or agent so requests, to
a public garage or off-street parking facility.  The department may
prescribe the limits within which the towing service shall be
operated.
   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the department may
furnish and deliver fuel to vehicles, the supply of which is
exhausted, or change tires, and may charge a reasonable sum for the
services and materials furnished or, if the department deems it safe
and advisable, and the owner or operator of the vehicle or object so
requests, it may be towed from the vehicular crossing.



23273.  Sections 24605, 25253, 27700, and 27907 do not apply to
vehicles operated by the Department of Transportation pursuant to
this article.