Jun 21, 2006 11:00 pm US/Central
Governor Signs Law To Crack Down On Towing Hustle
Legislation Comes As Result Of 2 Investigators Reports
by Pam Zekman
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Gov. Blagojevich signed a new law Wednesday to crack down on widespread abuses by tow truck drivers working for private companies licensed by the state.
The action is a result of a series of reports by the CBS 2 Investigators called the "Towing Hustle."
As Pam Zekman reports, the hustle included charging car owners hundreds of dollars to retrieve cars that were legally parked.
Wanda Trevino was legally parked in a shopping center.
"I came out and my car is gone," she said.
Martha Murphy's car was towed from her parking spot behind her home.
"I think they are stealing cars," Murphy told the 2 Investigators.
In the past, those violations only resulted in fines. Now, under legislation signed by Blagojevich, the penalties could be much tougher.
"If you are a serial abuser of the law you will lose your license," Blagojevich said. "We want to regulate this industry that is increasingly an industry that puts law abiding citizens and their cars in peril."
Citizens like Eloise Murphy, who companied to CBS 2 after her car was towed for the third time from a legal spot behind her apartment building.
"I cannot sleep at night because every time I hear a car come through the driveway or down the alley I fear someone's trying to hook my car up onto a tow truck," Murphy said.
CBS 2's investigation also found towing licenses were given to drivers like Richard Gaucho, who had a long history of criminal convictions for crimes like auto theft. That kind of criminal record could now prevent an applicant from getting a towing license under the new law.
"We're going to try to weed out and do the best that we can to keep the bad guys off the road," said ICC Police Chief Odie Carpenter.
The governor also says he'll push for new legislation that will give the Illinois Commerce Commission new powers to license a large segment of the towing industry that we disclosed is now unregulated.
They're known in the industry as accident chasers. They promise to tow a damaged car to a repair shop and instead take it to their own storage lot to pile up inflated fees.
"It's important to bring some sort of law and order to what has become sort of like the Wild Wild West of tow truck guys," Blagojevich said.
There are many legitimate towing companies and drivers who provide valuable services. Several of them told CBS 2 they support the state's crackdown on those who give the industry a bad name.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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