Illinois Legislation Aims to Crack Down on "Rogue Towers"

A new piece of legislation seeks to rein in towing companies that exploit drivers in the aftermath of accidents, a practice uncovered by the ABC7 I-Team's investigation into so-called "Rogue Towers."

The "Rogue Towing Regulations" bill, currently under consideration, aims to strengthen enforcement against unlicensed and illegal towing operations. In May 2022, ABC7 accompanied Chicago's Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department and local police as they identified towing violators who lacked proper licenses and were using illegal scanners and lights.

State Representative Will Davis expressed concern over towing companies that use scanners to monitor accident scenes, targeting vulnerable drivers who may be in shock or require medical attention. Under current law, tow companies are prohibited from arriving unless called to the scene.

The new bill would provide the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) with more power to impound trucks with unpaid fines, revoke truck plates, and tie towing licenses to individual owners, preventing bad actors from simply changing company names to continue operating illegally.

State Senator Celina Villanueva emphasized that the bill would ban companies from holding onto personal property, tackling predatory towing practices head-on. The legislation is in its early stages and will be closely monitored as it moves toward a vote. Source: https://abc7chicago.com