One of the greatest challenges Tucsonans face each winter and late summer:  Potholes.

The moment it rains it seems the potholes breed like rabbits.  They are everywhere.

We've all had that moment.  You're driving down your favorite street and WHAM!  It feels like you've hit a brick wall.  I actually blew a tire hitting one a few years ago at Navajo and Oracle and I was only driving 25 miles per hour.  More recently I hit a smaller one on Roger a block west of Campbell.  I still had that "Holy crap! What did I just do to my car?" feeling.

I've always wondered what to do when I spot one.  I ran across a phone number for the Tucson Department of Transportation where they take "pothole reports".  (520) 791-3154.  You have to call during business hours though.  Apparently no one wants to take a pothole report in the middle of the night.

Here's what you may not know:  It is possible if your car is damaged by hitting a pothole to get compensated from the city of Tucson.  But there's a catch:  The pothole must have been reported to the city and city crews must fail to fix it within two weeks of when it is initially reported.  If your car was damaged from hitting a pothole you can call (520) 791-4728 (the Tucson Risk Management Division of the Tucson Finance Department).  They'll let you know within four weeks if taxpayers will be paying for your car's damage.

Pot-holy crap!