(a) Chicago Towing Bill of Rights – Posting – Required. Each relocator shall post a copy of the Chicago Towing Bill of Rights, as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, conspicuously in the area of their lot or facility where persons retrieve relocated vehicles. Such posting, which shall be labeled the Chicago Towing Bill of Rights, shall be on a page or poster not less than 11 inches in width and 17 inches in height. In addition, the relocator shall provide a paper copy of the Chicago Towing Bill of Rights to all persons retrieving a vehicle from the relocator's lot or facility.
(b) Chicago Towing Bill of Rights – Required Contents. The Chicago Towing Bill of Rights shall state the following:
Chicago Towing Bill of Rights
Pursuant to the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois Administrative Code, and Municipal Code of Chicago, the following requirements apply when any vehicle is towed from private property:
1. No vehicle shall be relocated from any private property without the written consent of the private property owner or his authorized agent to conduct such removals.
2. No vehicle shall be relocated from a lot which does not, at the time of the tow and for at least 24 hours prior thereto, have signs posted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
3. Relocators shall print and make available to the public all authorized rates and charges for towing or for otherwise moving and storing vehicles in connection with the removal of unauthorized vehicles from private property.
4. Except for vehicles that require a commercial driver's license to operate, no vehicle shall be relocated if: (i) the owner of the vehicle or the owner's agent is present or arrives on the scene before the vehicle is completely removed from the private property, and (ii) such owner or agent can produce the ignition key or other ignition device for the vehicle, and (iii) such owner or agent is able to remove and immediately does remove the vehicle from the private property. If the vehicle requires a commercial driver's license to operate, no vehicle shall be relocated if the owner or operator of such vehicle: (i) is present or arrives on the scene before the vehicle is completely removed from the private property, and (ii) such owner or operator can produce the ignition key to the vehicle, and (iii) such owner or operator is able to and does immediately remove the vehicle from the private property, and (iv) such owner or operator pays a reasonable service fee of not more than one-half of the posted rate of the towing service.
5. Relocators must notify the Chicago Police Department within 30 minutes after relocating any unauthorized vehicle.
6. Relocators must accept any of the following methods of payment for lawful fees and charges: United States currency, commonly recognized traveler's checks, money orders, cashier's checks, certified checks, and commonly accepted credit cards and debit cards.
7. In the event the owner of any relocated vehicle is not able to immediately pay to retrieve the vehicle, the relocator must provide the owner with access to the vehicle to retrieve any of the owner's personal belongings. The relocator is permitted to accompany the owner to the vehicle while the owner removes his or her belongings.
8. Upon request, the relocator must provide the owner of any relocated vehicle with a photograph of the vehicle taken before it was towed that clearly shows the date and time the photograph was taken, the vehicle's location, and the vehicle's license plate number. Upon request, the relocator must also provide the vehicle owner with relevant electronic video records of the relocation.
9. When the owner retrieves his or her vehicle, or upon request, the relocator must provide the owner of the relocated vehicle with a copy of this "Bill of Rights" along with other relevant statutes, regulations, and ordinances governing relocation operations.
10. Formal complaints about the relocator can be made by contacting the Illinois Commerce Commission at (847) 294-4326 or can be filed online at www.icc.illinois.gov.
(Added Coun. J. 6-22-16, p. 26637, § 3)