Politics & Government
Gabel Legislation Creates Statewide Database Of Towed Vehicles
The database's aim is to increase transparency and create a more efficient process for locating vehicles that have been towed.
Press release from State Rep. Robyn Gabel:
Dec. 1, 2020
To increase transparency and create a more efficient process for locating vehicles that have been towed, State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is sponsoring legislation to create a statewide database for all towed vehicles which would be available to the public.
Find out what's happening in Northbrookfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Illinois has some of the worst customer experiences with towing companies in the country. An enormous source of frustration for owners of towed vehicles is not knowing who took their car and where it is,” Gabel said. “Taking someone’s property should be an incredibly transparent process, but currently we are forcing people to look at faded signs with phone numbers to call around to track down their vehicle. That is backwards. No one should be able to take someone’s property before reporting publicly that the car has been taken.”
Gabel recently filed House Bill 5854, requiring the Transportation Division of the Illinois Commerce Commission to establish a statewide database of all towed vehicles. The database would be integrated with existing law enforcement databases and be made available to the public. Under Gabel’s legislation, before taking possession of a vehicle a towing company must electronically submit to the database a valid vehicle information number, license plate number and the name of the towing company that took the vehicle.
Find out what's happening in Northbrookfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Chicago Sun-Times recently reported on a lawsuit in Chicago that was granted class-action status against the city for towing without telling. The lawsuit was brought forward by a 69-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis whose wheelchair accessible vehicle was impounded and later sold for scrap without notice. The story highlights the burdensome and unfair process against vehicle owners whose cars are towed without knowing where their property is located.
“Creating this simple database and making it available to the public will save countless hours of frustration to vehicle owners,” Gabel said. “Today we put the burden to discover the location of the vehicle strictly on the vehicle owner. It makes sense to put a standard, minimal burden on the towing company that is getting paid to report.”
This press release was produced by State Rep. Robyn Gabel. The views expressed here are the author's own.
