s u bsiiimii ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, It is well-documented that vulnerable accident victims and stranded motorists in Chicago are often taken advantage of by tow truck companies and operators engaging in predatory and potentially dangerous business practices, including:
Lying to automobile owners that the tow truck has been dispatched to the scene of an accident or vehicular breakdown by the police, insurance company or motor club;
Failing to disclose in advance of towing all towing, storage and miscellaneous fees necessary to secure release of the towed vehicle;
Charging persons for work that was not performed;
Towing vehicles without first having obtained authorization to tow from the vehicle's owner or operator, or telling a stranded motorist or accident victim that they must sign an authorization-to-tow form, which fails to disclose the costs for towing, storage, and other miscellaneous fees;
Towing victims to other than the agreed-upon location; and
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 dangerous business practices, and other deceptive and dangerous practices that place the public in great peril; and
WHEREAS, Preventing such abuses is hereby declared to be a matter of public safety; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. Section 2-14-132 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
(a) (1) Wh...
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