Cunningham goes toe to toe with towing industry and wins
CHICAGO – Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, State Senator Bill Cunningham’s new law eliminates questionable fees towing companies charge and gets rid of shady shakedowns over lifesaving medical devices.
“I was furious to find out that car owners cannot recover their personal medical devices, like hearing aids, from their vehicles – even if their vehicle is stolen and later towed,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Holding medical devices hostage is going way too far, and punitive tricks to maximize profits just give people another reason not to trust the towing industry.”
The legislation was brought to Cunningham from a constituent of the 18th District. The constituent’s vehicle was stolen from outside their residence in Chicago and was eventually located by law enforcement and towed in Alsip. The constituent did not find out where their vehicle was located until a week after it was recovered, receiving a letter in the mail from a suburban towing company that was holding the vehicle. When the constituent went to recover the vehicle, they were told they would have to pay a fee of $1,500, and were not allowed to recover a hearing aid from the vehicle until the fee was paid.
With Cunningham’s measure going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, towing companies who already charge an arm and a leg to recover your vehicle after it was stolen from you, will no longer be allowed to charge storage fees on the vehicle while it’s at their compound. The law will also stifle questionable actions by towing companies, which include not returning personal medical property and textbooks until they get paid.
“Imagine if your vehicle was improperly towed and the towing company is shaking you down for a thousand bucks before they’ll give you your hearing aids,” said Cunningham. “I’m glad that we have ended this practice here in Illinois.”
Cunningham’s law, Public Act 103-0756, passed the Illinois Senate 59-0 in April of this year, the Illinois House 109-0 in May and was subsequently signed by the governor in August. The law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
