Chicago City Council June 17, 2020 Committee on Finance
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, It is a well-documented fact that vulnerable accident victims and stranded motorists in Chicago are often preyed upon by unscrupulous tow truck companies and operators engaging in dishonest and potentially dangerous business practices; and
WHEREAS, These dishonest and potentially dangerous business practices include the following:
Tow truck operators telling automobile owners that the tow truck has been dispatched to the scene of an accident or vehicular breakdown by an insurance company or motor club when, in fact, it had not been.
Tow truck operators failing to disclose in advance of towing all towing, storage and miscellaneous fees necessary to secure release of the towed vehicle.
Tow truck operators charging persons for work that was not performed.
Tow truck operators incorrectly informing motorists that cash is the only accepted method of payment.
Tow truck operators towing vehicles without first having obtained authorization to tow from the vehicle's owner or operator. Or, in the alternative, tow truck operators telling a stranded motorist or accident victim that they must sign an authorization-to-tow form, which contains no prices;
Tow truck operators towing victims to other than the agreed-upon location.
Tow truck operators arriving at accident sites unsolicited and interfering with police operations.
WHEREAS, The business practices described herein are of a type likely to promote potentially violent confrontations, to strand motorists without their vehicle in unfamiliar areas of the City, to impeded expedited vehicle recovery, and to waste local law enforcement's limited resources; and
WHEREAS, Requiring tow truck companies and operators to obtain a City license to operate in Chicago will better enable the City to take prompt and meaningful enforcement action against tow truck companies and operators who repeatedly engage in these and other deceptive and frequently dangerous bus...
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