# Abandoned on the highway

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandoned-on-the-highway/400060>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 14, 2007, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandoned-on-the-highway/400060 "2007-04-14T04:02:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2007, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandoned-on-the-highway/400060/1 "2007-04-14T04:02:14Z")

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Why do I see plastic bags tied to cars when they’re abandoned on the highway? There’s always a bag or a t-shirt tied to the mirror. What’s that mean? Does it say “Come tow me away” or “Don’t tow me away”?

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**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandoned-on-the-highway/400060/2 "2007-04-14T04:08:53Z")

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This may be your answer:

“Raise your hood and tie something white to the radio antenna or hang it out the window so police officers or tow truck operators will know you need help.”

(Found [here](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/escape/stratscar.html).)

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**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2007, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abandoned-on-the-highway/400060/3 "2007-04-14T04:15:55Z")

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[QUOTE=pinkfreud]  
This may be your answer:

“Raise your hood and tie something white to the radio antenna or hang it out the window so police officers or tow truck operators will know you need help.”

(Found [here](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/escape/stratscar.html).)  
[/QUOTE]

Really? That’s it? That can’t be all. You’d assume cops would remove the flag once the incident was concluded. Otherwise, every other Joe would stop for that car (assuming you live in Niceville).