The Truth About IL's Truth in Towing Law
Illinois' Governor and former trans-Alaskan pipeline worker Rodney Blagojevich has signed the state's new "Truth in Towing Law." After taking full credit for the legislation, Daily Southtown columnist Phil Kadner reveals the new regs (which also shows you just how bad things were). From now on, "safety relocators" must be licensed by the state, display their company name, address and phone number on their trucks; get the owner's permission before towing a vehicle, reveal the stricken vehicle's ultimate destination and specify all costs. What's more, they can't "ask" owners to sign a transit damage waiver. They must provide an itemized invoice and allow cash OR credit payments, and return the vehicle during normal business hours. And now, the loopholes. First, the law doesn't take effect until July of next year. Second, there is no set fee for towing. Kadner reports that towing companies are still charging owners $1700 cash to retrieve their vehicles.
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After having to go into the ghetto and call the towing company from a pay phone to come meet me 30-180 minutes later and accept the hundreds of dollars of cash they made me bring, I welcome any legislation aimed at protecting tow "customers".
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