Brian Cox / Special to the Tribune
Cash-strapped towns across the suburbs may be raking in money from extra fees related to vehicle impoundments, but authorities in the upscale North Shore towns of Wilmette and Winnetka say there’s no need to begin that practice.
“We don’t charge the person an additional administrative bill on top of the tow bill,” said Wilmette Deputy Police Chief Kyle Perkins.
If a motorist is stopped for driving without insurance, Perkins said he or she can park the vehicle. If it’s in an area where it cannot be parked, the village may tow it and send the offender the bill for the tow — but nothing more.
Some Chicagoland suburbs, however, are increasingly punishing vehicle owners for crimes happening in their cars – even if the owners themselves didn’t commit the crime.
In recent years more than 100 Chicago area communities have passed local laws to seize vehicles police say were used in crimes, and then charge owners — sometimes $500 or more — to get the vehicles back, according to a Chicago Tribune review. That’s on top of traditional towing fees and whatever fines may come from criminal charges.
In those suburbs, officials say the fees are needed to cover the costs of impounds in tight budget times. But critics say many towns gouge vehicle owner in a system with fewer safeguards than criminal courts to protect the innocent.
The 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.
No need to worry about that in Winnetka, where police said they only impound and tow vehicles if the driver is arrested. They said an example of an arrest would be a DUI charge.
“The only time we would impound a vehicle is if there is an arrest,” said Sgt. James Harrison.
He said police in that north suburb do not tow or impound vehicles for offenses such as driving without insurance and said that instead the driver would be given a citation.
In Wilmette, Perkins said the only time the village tows vehicles is if the driver is arrested for a something like a DUI, driving on a suspended license or a felony.
“There is no administrative fee on those tows either,” said Perkins. “The only time a motorist doesn’t have to pay a tow bill is if the village tows the vehicle to allow for road work. We will move the vehicle and if there’s a tow bill we will pay it.”
He also said there was been some talk in the village about charging administrative fees on top of regular towing fees. But there are no immediate plans to change the policy, he added.
“It’s been discussed because other town are doing it,” Perkins said. “But we’re not looking at doing it, administrative tows, at this time.
“We’re not going to look at administrative tows solely because of our budget situation. It’s the same thing that’s comes up with red light cameras for us.
“The police department has said we will support red light cameras if they’re going to reduce property damage and personal injury. We will not support it solely as a money maker.”
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