The county is hoping to bring a couple of tow trucks to jump-start cars, change flat tires, refill leaky radiators and tow vehicles off Highway 101 free of charge to relieve congestion on the South Coast.
The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, a regional transportation agency voted this week to seek state funding for the freeway service patrol, saying it could be in operation on 101 between Ventura and as early as next year. The annual cost for two tow trucks would be $250,000.