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Chapter 18d - Illinois Commercial Safety Towing Law

 
    (625 ILCS 5/Ch. 18d heading) CHAPTER 18d. ILLINOIS COMMERCIAL SAFETY TOWING LAW (Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑101)
    Sec. 18d‑101. Short title. This Chapter may be cited as the Illinois Commercial Safety Towing Law.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑105)
    Sec. 18d‑105. Definitions. As used in this Chapter:
    (1) "Commercial vehicle safety relocator" or "safety relocator" means any person or entity engaged in the business of removing damaged or disabled vehicles from public or private property by means of towing or otherwise, and thereafter relocating and storing such vehicles.
    (2) "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑110)
    Sec. 18d‑110. The General Assembly finds and declares that commercial vehicle towing service in the State of Illinois fundamentally affects the public interest and public welfare. It is the intent of the General Assembly, in this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, to promote the public interest and the public welfare by requiring similar basic consumer protections and fraud prevention measures that are required of other marketplace participants, including the disclosure of material terms and conditions of the service to consumers before consumers accept the terms and conditions. The General Assembly also intends that the provisions in this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly promote safety for all persons and vehicles that travel or otherwise use the public highways of this State. The General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest that persons whose vehicles are towed from the public highways know important basic information, such as where they can retrieve their vehicles and the cost to retrieve their vehicles, so that they can avoid vehicle deterioration and arrange for a prompt repair of the vehicles.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑115)
    Sec. 18d‑115. It shall be unlawful for any commercial vehicle safety relocator to operate in any county in which this Chapter is applicable without a valid, current safety relocator's registration certificate issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission. The Illinois Commerce Commission shall issue safety relocator's registration certificates in accordance with administrative rules adopted by the Commission. The Commission may, at any time during the term of the registration certificate, make inquiry, into the licensee's management or conduct of business or otherwise, to determine that the provisions of this Chapter and the rules of the Commission adopted under this Chapter are being observed.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑117)
    Sec. 18d‑117. Exemption.
    (a) A tower, as defined by Section 1‑205.2 of this Code, legally residing in a county not subject to this Chapter pursuant to Section 18d‑180 of this Chapter may operate in a county that is subject to this Chapter pursuant to Section 18d‑180 for the limited purpose of removing a damaged or disabled vehicle upon the request of the owner or operator legally residing in a county not subject to this Chapter to remove the vehicle and tow the vehicle across county lines to the county where the tower and owner or operator resides.
    (b) A tower operating for the limited purpose in subsection (a) is not subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
    (c) Subsection (a) does not apply to towers that legally reside in both counties.
(Source: P.A. 96‑309, eff. 1‑1‑10.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑120)
    Sec. 18d‑120. Disclosure to vehicle owner or operator before towing of damaged or disabled vehicle commences.
    (a) A commercial vehicle safety relocator shall not commence the towing of a damaged or disabled vehicle without specific authorization from the vehicle owner or operator after the disclosures set forth in this Section.
    (b) Every commercial vehicle safety relocator shall, before towing a damaged or disabled vehicle, give to each vehicle owner or operator a written disclosure providing:
        (1) The formal business name of the commercial

vehicle safety relocator, as registered with the Illinois Secretary of State, and its business address and telephone number.

(2) The address of the location to which the vehicle

shall be relocated.

(3) The cost of all relocation, storage, and any

other fees, without limitation, that the commercial vehicle safety relocator will charge for its services.

(4) An itemized description of the vehicle owner or

operator's rights under this Code, as follows:

"As a customer, you also have the following rights

under Illinois law:

(1) This written disclosure must be provided to you

before your vehicle is towed, providing the business name, business address, address where the vehicle will be towed, and a reliable telephone number;

(2) Before towing, you must be advised of the price

of all services;

(3) Upon your demand, a final invoice itemizing all

charges, as well as any damage to the vehicle upon its receipt and return to you, must be provided;

(4) Upon your demand, your vehicle must be returned

during business hours, upon your prompt payment of all reasonable fees;

(5) You have the right to pay all charges in cash

or by major credit card;

(6) Upon your demand, you must be provided with

proof of the existence of mandatory insurance insuring against all risks associated with the transportation and storage of your vehicle."

(c) The commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide

a copy of the completed disclosure required by this Section to the vehicle owner or operator, before towing the damaged or disabled vehicle, and shall maintain an identical copy of the completed disclosure in its records for a minimum of 5 years after the transaction concludes.

(d) If the vehicle owner or operator is incapacitated,

incompetent, or otherwise unable to knowingly accept receipt of the disclosure described in this Section, the commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide a completed copy of the disclosure to local law enforcement and, if known, the vehicle owner or operator's automobile insurance company.

(e) If the commercial vehicle safety relocator fails to

comply with the requirements of this Section, the commercial vehicle safety relocator shall be prohibited from seeking any compensation whatsoever from the vehicle owner or operator, including but not limited to any towing, storage, or other incidental fees. Furthermore, if the commercial vehicle safety relocator or operator fails to comply with the requirements of this Section, any contracts entered into by the commercial vehicle safety relocator and the vehicle owner or operator shall be deemed null, void, and unenforceable.

(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑125)
    Sec. 18d‑125. Disclosures to vehicle owners or operators; invoices.
    (a) Upon demand of the vehicle owner or operator, the commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide an itemized final invoice that fairly and accurately documents the charges owed by the vehicle owner or operator for relocation of damaged or disabled vehicles. The final estimate or invoice shall accurately record in writing all of the items set forth in this Section.
    (b) The final invoice shall show the formal business name of the commercial vehicle safety relocator, as registered with the Illinois Secretary of State, its business address and telephone number, the date of the invoice, the odometer reading at the time the final invoice was prepared, the name of the vehicle owner or operator, and the description of the motor vehicle, including the motor vehicle identification number. In addition, the invoice shall describe any modifications made to the vehicle by the commercial vehicle safety relocator, any observable damage to the vehicle upon its initial receipt by the commercial vehicle safety relocator, and any observable damage to the vehicle at the time of its release to the vehicle owner or operator. The invoice shall itemize any additional charges and include those charges in the total presented to the vehicle owner or operator.
    (c) A legible copy of the invoice shall be given to the vehicle owner or operator, and a legible copy shall be retained by the commercial vehicle safety relocator for a period of 5 years from the date of release of the vehicle. The copy may be retained in electronic format. Records may be stored at a separate location.
    (d) Disclosure forms required in accordance with this Section 18d‑120 must be approved by the Commission.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑130)
    Sec. 18d‑130. Disclosures to vehicle owners or operators; required signs. Every commercial vehicle safety relocator's storage facility that relocates or stores damaged or disabled vehicles shall post, in a prominent place on the business premises, one or more signs, readily visible to customers, in the following form:
    YOUR CUSTOMER RIGHTS. YOU ARE ENTITLED BY LAW TO:
        1. BEFORE TOWING, A WRITTEN DISCLOSURE STATING THE

NAME OF THE TOWING AND STORAGE SERVICE, ITS BUSINESS ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, AND THE ADDRESS WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TOWED.

2. BEFORE TOWING, THE PRICE OF ALL CHARGES FOR THE

TOWING AND STORAGE OF YOUR VEHICLE.

3. UPON YOUR DEMAND FOR THE RETURN OF YOUR VEHICLE, A

FINAL INVOICE ITEMIZING ALL CHARGES FOR TOWING, STORAGE, OR ANY OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED, AS WELL AS ANY DAMAGE IDENTIFIED TO THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME IT WAS TAKEN BY THE TOWING AND STORAGE FACILITY, AS WELL AS ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFIED UPON ITS RELEASE TO YOU.

4. THE RETURN OF YOUR VEHICLE, UPON YOUR DEMAND FOR

ITS RETURN DURING BUSINESS HOURS AND YOUR PROMPT PAYMENT OF ALL REASONABLE FEES.

5. PAY ALL CHARGES IN CASH OR BY MAJOR CREDIT CARD.         6. UPON YOUR DEMAND, PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF

INSURANCE, WHICH THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY RELOCATOR MUST MAINTAIN TO INSURE AGAINST RISK OF DAMAGE TO YOUR VEHICLE IN TRANSIT AND WHILE IN STORAGE. IF THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY RELOCATOR HAS COMPLIED WITH THE ABOVE RIGHTS, YOU ARE REQUIRED, BEFORE TAKING THE VEHICLE FROM THE PREMISES, TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE RELOCATOR.

The first line of each sign shall be in letters not less

than 1.5 inches in height, and the remaining lines shall be in letters not less than one‑half inch in height.

(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑135)
    Sec. 18d‑135. Record keeping. Every commercial vehicle safety relocator engaged in relocation or storage of damaged or disabled vehicles shall maintain copies of (i) all disclosures provided to vehicle owners or operators as required under this Chapter and (ii) all invoices provided to vehicle owners or operators as required under this Chapter. The copies may be maintained in an electronic format, shall be kept for 5 years, and shall be available for inspection by the Illinois Commerce Commission.
    Failure to provide requested documentation to the Illinois Commerce Commission within 3 business days of a request received from the Illinois Commerce Commission shall subject the commercial vehicle safety relocator to penalties imposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Penalties may include suspension of registration certificate and monetary fines up to $1,000 for each violation.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑140)
    Sec. 18d‑140. Any vehicle used in connection with any commercial vehicle safety relocation service must have painted or firmly affixed to the vehicle on both sides of the vehicle in a color or colors vividly contrasting to the color of the vehicle the name, address, and telephone number of the safety relocator. The Commission shall prescribe reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to insignia to be painted or firmly affixed to vehicles.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑145)
    Sec. 18d‑145. Any vehicle used in connection with any commercial vehicle safety relocation service must carry in the power unit of the vehicle a certified copy of the currently effective safety relocator's registration certificate. Copies may be photographed, photocopied, or reproduced or printed by any other legible and durable process. Any person guilty of not causing to be displayed a copy of the safety relocator's registration certificate may in any hearing concerning the violation be excused from the payment of the penalty hereinafter provided upon a showing that the registration certificate was issued by the Commission, but was subsequently lost or destroyed.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑150)
    Sec. 18d‑150. Waiver or limitation of liability prohibited.
    (a) Commercial vehicle safety relocators engaged in the relocation or storage of damaged or disabled vehicles shall be prohibited from including a clause in contracts for the relocation or storage of vehicles purporting to waive or limit the commercial vehicle safety relocator's liability under this Code, in tort or contract, or under any other cognizable cause of action available to the vehicle owner or operator.
    (b) Commercial vehicle safety relocators are prohibited from requiring the vehicle owner or operator to sign or agree to any document purporting to waive or limit the commercial vehicle safety relocator's liability under this Code, in tort or contract, or under any other cognizable cause of action available to the vehicle owner or operator.
    (c) Any contract, release, or other document purporting to waive or limit the commercial vehicle safety relocator's liability under this Code, in tort or contract, or under any other cognizable cause of action available to the vehicle owner or operator, shall be deemed null, void, and unenforceable.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑153)
    Sec. 18d‑153. Misrepresentation of affiliation. It shall be unlawful for any tower to misrepresent an affiliation with the State, a unit of local government, an insurance company, a private club, or any other entity for the purpose of securing a business transaction with a vehicle owner or operator.
(Source: P.A. 96‑1369, eff. 1‑1‑11.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑155)
    Sec. 18d‑155. The Illinois Commerce Commission may request documentation or investigate business practices by a commercial vehicle safety relocator to determine compliance with this Chapter. Failure to comply with any Section of this Chapter, as determined by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall subject a commercial vehicle safety relocator to penalties imposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Penalties may include suspension of registration certificate and monetary fines up to $1,000 for each violation.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑160)
    Sec. 18d‑160. Unlawful practice. Any commercial vehicle safety relocator engaged in the relocation or storage of damaged or disabled vehicles who fails to comply with Sections 18d‑115, 18d‑120, 18d‑125, 18d‑130, 18d‑135, 18d‑150, or 18d‑153 of this Code commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08; 96‑1369, eff. 1‑1‑11.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑165)
    Sec. 18d‑165. Charges payable in cash or by major credit card. Any towing or storage charges accrued by the vehicle owner or operator shall be payable by the use of any major credit card, in addition to being payable in cash.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑170)
    Sec. 18d‑170. Mandatory insurance coverage.
    (a) A commercial vehicle safety relocator shall provide insurance coverage for all risks associated with the transportation of vehicles towed under this Chapter, as well as for areas where vehicles towed under this Chapter are impounded or otherwise stored, and shall adequately cover loss by fire, theft, or other risks.
    (b) Upon the demand of the vehicle owner or operator, a commercial vehicle safety relocator shall promptly supply proof of the existence of this insurance.
    (c) Any person who fails to comply with the conditions and restrictions of this subsection shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑175)
    Sec. 18d‑175. Disposition of funds. All fees and fines collected by the Commission under this Chapter shall be paid into the Transportation Regulatory Fund in the State treasury. The money in that fund shall be used to defray the expenses of the administration of this Chapter.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)

    (625 ILCS 5/18d‑180)
    Sec. 18d‑180. The provisions of this Chapter apply to all the activities of safety relocators in any jurisdiction to which Chapter 18a of this Code applies in accordance with Section 18a‑700.
(Source: P.A. 95‑562, eff. 7‑1‑08.)