In a renewed push to combat predatory towing practices across Chicago, the City Council is preparing to vote on a sweeping ordinance aimed at cracking down on rogue towing companies. Spearheaded by Ald. Gilbert Villegas of the 36th Ward, the measure builds on a 2021 effort that attempted to regulate the industry but fell short due to limited enforcement power.
Labeling the situation as “run rampant throughout the city,” Villegas told the Chicago Sun-Times that this new ordinance, coined "Rogue Towing 2.0" will bolster the city’s ability to penalize violators by allowing Chicago police to seize and impound tow trucks operating illegally. Additionally, the proposed legislation opens the door for drivers and insurance companies to sue for damages caused by unscrupulous towing behavior.
“The enforcement portion is where we were lacking,” Villegas said. “What this ordinance does is allow for CPD to go ahead and tow the towers.”
According to Fox 32 Chicago, the ordinance would require all towing companies to file fee schedules with the city’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. It would also forbid the relocation of vehicles without the owner's explicit consent, and violations could result in tow truck seizure, impoundment, and fines of up to $10,000.
The initiative has garnered support from national stakeholders, including the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the latter highlighting an 89% nationwide increase in predatory towing claims. The NICB praised the Chicago ordinance as a “significant step” in protecting both drivers and insurers.
“We are adding more teeth to this legislation so that consumers have options they can pursue when needed,” Villegas emphasized.
The full City Council vote is set for April 16. If passed, the ordinance would mark a decisive move in shielding motorists from fraudulent or coercive towing operations, and it would shift the enforcement landscape firmly into the hands of local authorities.
