DUI
Illinois Village to Charge Huge Towing Fee for DUI
Gurnee approves towing ordinance with $500 fee
Board members of the Village of Gurnee, Illinois, north of Chicago, recently approved ordinance aimed at penalizing drivers accused of Illinois DUI. Those stopped for suspicion of drunk driving can have their vehicle seized and be forced to pay the village $500 to the village plus storage charges to the towing company.
While the original content of the law called for mandatory towing, an exception allows the arresting officer the flexibility in permitting a sober passenger to drive the vehicle home without a fine.
The $500 charge for seizure of a vehicle will not be returned even if the accused motorist in found not guilty of driving under the influence in a court of law. However the driver can appeal the fine to an independent hearing officer hired by the village.
In addition the Gurnee, other suburban Chicago communities like Arlington Heights have similar DUI towing provisions.
Critics call the ordinance just a money making scheme for the village.
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Posted
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Filed in DUI News | Illinois DUI | Permalink | Comments (7)
Filed in DUI News | Illinois DUI | Permalink | Comments (7)
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towing ordinanance
Posted by
warren williams
at
2008-07-13 08:26
I believe that the 500$ towing fee that these municipalities charge on top of other fee's assesed are ridiculous, and where did the law come from where they could inpose these fee's. It's just a scam to get $ out of the citizen, then u wonder why people have disgruntal attitudes toward police, polliticians,municipal officials, and goverment. Look and how they treat the people for the gain.
Posted by
chuck
at
2008-07-13 13:17
In Ohio we have set fees related to towing. The max fee is $85.00 for the tow and $13.00 a day storage. Which fees are set by the state. But the easy way to get around this is don't do something bad which causes your car to be towed !
Posted by
WARREN
at
2008-07-15 08:30
regardless of what your vehicle is towed for etc, etc. there still should be provisions that oversee what municiapalities and other offices charge for penalties. had to pay $570.00 to the town! for what! plus towing fee by the company of $245.00. 125 tow 25.00 wait time plus 70.00 for two days storage when it hasn't been 48hrs was retrieved on next buss day were'nt open on sun picked up 8am when open mon morn. please! you must be part of the crooked municipal system.......it all about money! how can we take money by hook or crook for our gain, by any means.
Posted by
kim
at
2009-07-13 08:51
There are always those few drunks, who get released to a responsible party, and go back and get into their cars, and drive again, only to hit and kill some innocent person like you Warren. If the vehicle is towed, they don't have that opportunity. The money comes into play, as a way to stop people from wanting to drive under the influence of anything.
If you know what the penalty will be, Money Jail etc.... you may be less likely to get into a vehicle and drive. Money seems to be more of: hit em where it hurts then jail. When you loose someone you love to a drunk driver, money is of little value to you, as it doesn't compare to a person's life. Sounds to me, like your vehicle was towed for a similar situation, and you obviously haven't forgotten the price of it,,,have you.
If you know what the penalty will be, Money Jail etc.... you may be less likely to get into a vehicle and drive. Money seems to be more of: hit em where it hurts then jail. When you loose someone you love to a drunk driver, money is of little value to you, as it doesn't compare to a person's life. Sounds to me, like your vehicle was towed for a similar situation, and you obviously haven't forgotten the price of it,,,have you.
Posted by
Jean
at
2009-12-15 10:01
Well Kim I Must Disagree, I had a friend who was pulled over in Wheaton Illinois and was completely sober as she did not have any alcohol to drink whatsoever (nor Drugs), she was pulled over and told to participate in a field sobriety test, which she did and passed, however they told her she needed to go to the police station to blow into the machine to be sure, which she did and passed and then found out her car had been towed during this time and she would have to pay to get it out plus pay money to the village. She Ended up with a court date and had to hire an attorney to clear her name. She did not recoop any out of pocket costs for anything. At this point you must be thinking their is something missing from this story she must have done something, but she didn't she is only 4 foot 11" and wears bifocals and works with the elderly which consumes all of her personal time.
These fees give the village the ability to pull over whomever they want haul them in on suspicion and charge them 500 non refundable dollars
Quote: "The $500 charge for seizure of a vehicle will not be returned even if the accused motorist is found not guilty of driving under the influence in a court of law"
At this point its not about getting drunks off the road but a way to make up for budget shortfalls!! And Take Money From Motorists/Taxpayers.
These fees give the village the ability to pull over whomever they want haul them in on suspicion and charge them 500 non refundable dollars
Quote: "The $500 charge for seizure of a vehicle will not be returned even if the accused motorist is found not guilty of driving under the influence in a court of law"
At this point its not about getting drunks off the road but a way to make up for budget shortfalls!! And Take Money From Motorists/Taxpayers.
Posted by
jack
at
2009-12-17 09:23
ok, so they pull your friend over, what was the reason they pulled her over, was there No alcohol present at all? because if there wasn't even a presence of alcohol, then why would they ask her to take a breathalizer (sp?) test....
If there wasn't any alcohol involved AT ALL, than her attorney should have been able to file a claim to make the municipality pay back the fees. Maybe, because you weren't there, you are not getting all the details.
If there wasn't any alcohol involved AT ALL, than her attorney should have been able to file a claim to make the municipality pay back the fees. Maybe, because you weren't there, you are not getting all the details.
Posted by
jack
at
2009-12-17 09:30
do you realize that the most of that money goes to the State, some to the city or town, not to the police officers pockets.
Also, if someone is drunk, and driving, how dare you put a price on someone's life. When you have someone you care about, killed by a drunk or under the influence of anything, let us know, if you believe the 500.00 fine, covers the cost of their life. This is obviously set as a way to try and prevent these people from getting behind the wheel. Period
Also, if someone is drunk, and driving, how dare you put a price on someone's life. When you have someone you care about, killed by a drunk or under the influence of anything, let us know, if you believe the 500.00 fine, covers the cost of their life. This is obviously set as a way to try and prevent these people from getting behind the wheel. Period
