Feb 9, 2007 7:46 pm US/Central
New Ordinance Would Crack Down On Towing Scams
by Pam Zekman
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
There is a new push is on to crack down on towing companies who rip off accident victims.
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn proposed Friday a new city ordinance in response to disclosures by the CBS 2 Investigators about the accident chasers. As CBS 2's Pam Zekman reports, the state is closer to taking action too.
The accident chasers monitor police scanners so they can sign up business when you are not thinking clearly.
"I had a concussion. I was all banged up," said towing victim Talbott Steel.
And instead of towing a car where you ask, they store it in their lot.
"When I had learned that he had taken my car to his location I felt like he had stolen it," said towing victim Emily Klear.
Now the city is under pressure to take action.
"Clearly as has been outlined both by Channel 2 and the Daily Southtown, this is a problem," said Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn. "We can't just stand still and let hard working people get taken advantage of by tow truck pirates."
Quinn filed a proposed ordinance on Friday that would prohibit companies from soliciting accident victims. They would have to be licensed by the city and called to accident scenes on a rotating basis from an approved list that excludes convicted felons.
"We cannot have mugs and thugs running pirate tow truck companies preying on innocent motorists who are stranded," Quinn said.
The proposed ordinance would also prohibit companies from charging excessive and bogus fees to build up bills to more than $1,000. It also would set a standard towing charge of $150.
"So no tow truck company can get away with highway robbery," Quinn said.
Quinn says he will also push for similar state regulation. The governor's office said they are already working on statewide legislation as a result of our original reports.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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