December 12, 2018 Chicago City Council
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR HEARINGS ON PREDATORY TOWING COMPANIES
WHEREAS, towing companies such as Lincoln Towing have preyed on innocent Chicagoans for decades; and,
WHEREAS, these predatory towing companies have been outright disrespectful to owners of cars they have towed, from laughing and making fun of them, to hanging up on them, accusing people of being drunk when trying to retrieve their cars, and attacking owners when they are trying to stop their cars from being towed; and,
WHEREAS, these companies have engaged in illegal business practices, such as hiring unlicensed drivers, relocating cars in private lots without the property owner's consent, and relocating cars that are serviced by other towing companies; and,
WHEREAS, these companies attempt to profit by doing everything they can to make a buck off the misery of others, often taking advantage of the elderly and the disabled: and
WHEREAS, likely every Alderman has heard the agonizing stories of residents being taken advantage of by tow truck companies; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chicago City Council will not allow any Chicagoan to be abused or taken advantage of without serious consequence: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that no later than March 1, 2019 the License and Consumer Protection Committee ofthe City Council hold one or more public hearings to determine the extent ofthe predatory towing epidemic in Chicago and begin to formulate a new process of enforcement which will keep Chicagoans safe; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commissioner ofthe Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection is, through this Resolution, requested to testify at said hearing or hearings
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward