Michelle Manchir and Mary Owen/TribLocal reporters

To drive a car out of the impound lot in Plainfield costs a lot more than in Bolingbrook, Joliet or Romeoville, but in all four locales, car owners pay hundreds of dollars in fees to get their vehicles back if they’re seized by police.

The Tribune found that more than 100 communities passed local laws to tow vehicles police say were used in crimes, and then charge owners hefty fees – usually $500 or more – to get the vehicles back, even if the owners themselves didn’t commit the crime. 

That’s on top of traditional towing fees and whatever fines may come from criminal charges.
Suburbs say the fees are needed to cover the costs of impounds in tight budget times and police say officers use discretion when deciding when to impound vehicles. But critics say many towns gouge vehicle owner in a system with fewer safeguards than criminal courts to protect the innocent.

With no state laws governing the practices, a Tribune review of larger Chicagoland suburbs found wide variation in who charges extra fees, how much they charge, what crimes draw the charges, and how much leeway police give owners to avoid the fees.

Bolingbrook has one of the broadest tow ordinances, allowing for impounds on everything from minors driving past curfew and improperly tinted windows to drunk driving.

Despite that fact, Lt. Mike Rompa with Bolingbrook Police Department says the department receives “minimal complaints,” which he says is likely due to the

“There is no evidence of abuse as we have an appeal process to insure quality control,” Rompa said.

The village recently raised its tow fee from $200 to $300 to offset administrative costs, which is still less than nearby municipalities like Plainfield and Romeoville.

In Plainfield, a $500 fee is tacked onto impounded vehicles, but only if an offender is fleeing from police, drag racing, driving drunk or driving with a license expired for more than a year.

Plainfield Police Chief William Doster estimated impounds occur about 10 times a month and, like the other areas examined in this Tribune review, it allows vehicle owners to appeal the fees.

Fines in Romeoville are less than in Plainfield – vehicle owners pay a $400 fine – but that can be waived if drivers can prove they didn’t commit the crime. 

“Normally though, if they allowed a person to use the car, then they’re basically stuck paying that money,” Deputy Chief Mark Turvey said. “We’ll tell them that if you allowed a person to use the car then you’re responsible.”

About 700 administrative tows occurred in 2009. Laws authorize police to impound if a person lacks proof of insurance or has a recently expired driver’s license, but Turvey said a person rarely is arrested or imposed with a tow just because they have no insurance.

In Joliet, the administrative fee is used as an additional deterrent to crime, Deputy Police Chief Mike Trafton said.

“Compliance and deterrence is what we’re looking for,” he said.

Fees in Joliet range between $250 and $500, depending on the violation. That is added on top of the towing price charged by the local companies, which the city contracts with to do its towing.

People whose cars were stolen and then used in a crime are not charged for towing or an administrative fee.

“When we have a victim we always waive the fees,” Trafton said.

Drivers who are pulled over for traffic violations, such as drunken driving or revoked license, or commit crimes with their cars do have to pay. However, everyone has the opportunity to fight the fee in an administrative hearing.

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