HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — In this village perched along the Hudson River, boys pedal up to one of the spots downtown for drinks and snacks after school. At a pizza parlor, the owner lets a regular customer walk off with a plain slice with the understanding that she will pay the next time she comes in. Around the corner, the hardware store has set up its barbecue grills for sale on the sidewalk, welcoming spring’s arrival.
Then an unusual contraption creeps down the street: a tow truck outfitted with cameras and light reflectors, tugging a sedan.