IL HB3124

Law enforcement agencies must maintain tow rotation lists used to select towing services for vehicle tows within their jurisdiction, with multiple lists allowed for different geographic areas.

Towing services must meet requirements including possessing proper licenses, submitting to criminal background checks, maintaining minimum insurance coverage ($1,000,000 combined automobile liability and $1,000,000 commercial general liability), holding valid Illinois Commerce Commission authority, and completing Department of Transportation-approved Traffic Incident Management Training.

Applicants cannot own or operate a towing service on a rotation list if convicted within 5 years of crimes involving bodily injury, theft, or sexual assault.

When authorizing a tow, law enforcement must contact towing services from the rotation list in order and move each contacted service to the end of the list; law enforcement can deviate from this order only in emergencies or when the next service lacks required equipment or skills.

Vehicle owners present at the scene of a disabled vehicle that is not impeding traffic, illegally parked, or posing safety risks may choose their own towing service; otherwise the law enforcement agency selects from the rotation list.