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The following has been provided by McHenry County Board member Nick Provenzano:

ICC Regulation of Relocation Towing

Benefits to McHenry County Constituents

It is the policy of the State of Illinois to supervise and regulate the commercial removal of trespassing vehicles from private property, and the subsequent relocation and storage of such vehicle in such manner as to fairly distribute rights and responsibilities among vehicle owners, private property owners and commercial vehicle relocators.

A few of the benefits that ICC regulation will bring to the constituents of McHenry County:

1. Regulates the maximum fee a tow operator can charge to tow a vehicle.

2. Regulates the maximum fee charged for storage of a vehicle and provides the first 24 hours of storage at no charge.

3. Prohibits additional fees above the maximum tow rate for use of credit cards.

4. Requires signs to be posted in visible location warning of potential tow.

5. Requires signs to state towing fee, location, hours of operation and phone number of storage yard.

6. Requires tow operator to contact local Law Enforcement to notify of tow within one hour of the removal of the vehicle.

7. Prohibits tow operator from towing the vehicle if the owner of the vehicle is on hand and able to remove the vehicle immediately.

8. Tow operators, truck drivers and dispatchers will undergo criminal background checks.

9. Requires tow operators to identify on the tow trucks the name, address and phone number of the company.

10. Requires prior permission to tow from the property owner. Tow operators cannot cruise parking lots that they are not under contract with.

11. Prohibits the removal of the vehicle more than 15 air miles away in an unincorporated area or 10 air miles in any other location.

12. Tow operators are required to provide all Law Enforcement agencies the contact phone number where a vehicle owner can reach someone to retrieve their vehicle.

13. If the owner of the vehicle is unable to make telephone contact with the towing operator for a period of one hour from his initial attempt all fees for towing and storage are to be waived.

14. Towing operators are required to file an indemnity bond or liability insurance with the ICC.

15. No operator will be able to receive a tow relocation license if convicted of certain criminal activity during the preceding five years.

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Labels: ICC, Illinois Commerce Commission, NIck Provenzano, Tow Truck, Towing