Chicago Police May Soon Tow the Tow Trucks

Chicago aldermen are backing a new ordinance aimed at stopping rogue towing companies that exploit drivers after crashes. Approved Tuesday by the City Council's License and Consumer Protection Committee, the measure would allow police to impound tow trucks operated by unlicensed or predatory drivers and give victims the right to sue in civil court.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th), a longtime critic of the industry, said, “It allows for CPD, once we determine who the bad actors are, CPD to tow the bad tow truck drivers, and really start to crack down on this industry.”

Despite earlier efforts requiring companies to be licensed, many drivers still report being charged thousands to recover vehicles towed without consent. John O'Donnell of Enterprise said his company faces these situations weekly, with 92 different rogue operators identified—many simply rebranding to avoid penalties.

CBS News Chicago previously uncovered cases where companies demanded nearly $60,000 for vehicle returns. The ordinance, now heading to the full City Council, is the city’s latest push to hold bad actors accountable and end what Villegas calls an “evolving scam.” Some towing professionals argue the city should focus on stricter enforcement of existing laws and better oversight, rather than giving police new authority to impound trucks on the spot.  Source: https://www.cbsnews.com