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Council adopts tighter rules on inoperable vehicles, impoundment and pre-tow hearings
Summary
An ordinance amending city code sections on pre-tow hearings, vehicle immobilization and impoundment, and illegally parked/abandoned vehicles was adopted to address recurring problems with long-term abandoned vehicles and cat-and-mouse relocations.
The City of Joliet adopted ordinance amendments Oct. 19 to Chapter 3 (pre-tow hearing; vehicle immobilization and impoundment) and Chapter 19 (illegally parked, abandoned or inoperable vehicles) of the city code.
Council discussion referenced a recurring enforcement issue in which vehicles cited as abandoned are moved short distances and then returned, creating enforcement challenges. The police chief said the amendments are intended to close enforcement gaps and make the code more effective at addressing chronic abandoned vehicles.
The public speaker earlier in the meeting asked the council not to remove vehicles that owners keep for sentimental reasons; that comment was heard during the public agenda-comment portion and was not tied to council votes. The ordinance was presented with a committee recommendation and received a council vote to adopt; council members recorded their approval during the floor vote.
City staff said implementation will be managed by the police and code enforcement divisions under existing procedures; the item does not change towing contractors but clarifies pre-tow hearing and impoundment triggers under the code.
