Just to clarify a couple of things firstly if an accident is in the designated Metropolitan Area the Police will arrange a tow through the Accident Towing Roster.
If the vehicle is not in a hazardous position ie parked on the side of the road the owner can arrange to pick it up themselves with a car trailer.
In country areas where the Accident Towing Roster does not apply,and classed as Out of Zone, Police will arrange a tow, or the owner can nominate a towing service at their request.Once again if the vehicle is not in a hazardous position or leaking fuel etc the Police can not force an owner to get a tow.
I have attended an MVA in the past where the driver had been hanging upside down trapped in the vehicle for hours, and was only noticed when the sun came up and passing traffic saw the car in the paddock.Sadly he died at the scene as we were trying to free him
You're sort of right......
Within a designated area, known as the "Tow Zone" (which extends at least beyond Willunga in the South, perhaps further, around Norton Summit / Ashton ish in the East, not sure how far away in the North), if a car (not a truck) is involved in a crash, and requires a tow, anyone can arrange a tow...but it must be through the tow roster- which is done through police - either by the attendance of a patrol, or via the Accident tow line (which is answered by police) and which ever tow company is at the top of the list, for that area, gets dispatched.
If the vehicle is blocking traffic, then police have the authority to call for a tow & get the vehicle removed. If the vehicle is not obstructing traffic, but is still on the road, and within the tow zone, and you are going to get it towed, you cannot get your mates to come & tow it, unless the vehicle is more than 200 metres from the point of impact....under that & the tow roster must be used.
If the vehicle is on private property and not causing a hazard to other road users, then police can't just get it towed, unless it is subject to an investigation (eg death / cause serious harm etc etc).
In areas outside the tow zone, anyone can call any tow they like. Police do not have to arrange the tow - although if it they attend the scene, they will often arrange a tow.
The rules are different for large vehicles...
Pip