Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Codes Towing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Warrenville committee recommends replacing vehicle repossession code after police report on 402 towings
Summary
The Warrenville Public Safety and Finance Committee voted to recommend the city council approve an ordinance replacing City Code Title 4, Chapter 8 after Deputy Chief Jacobson reported 402 vehicles were repossessed or relocated in the city between March 2023 and March 2025; the draft would require tow‑company permits via Oxcart, a $15 per‑vehicle fee and fines of $100–$500.
The Warrenville Public Safety and Finance Committee voted to recommend that the city council approve an ordinance repealing and replacing City Code Title 4, Chapter 8 governing repossession and relocation of vehicles after police officials said the change is needed to improve notifications and enforcement.
Deputy Chief Jacobson told the committee that an internal review showed 402 vehicles were repossessed or relocated within the city between March 2023 and March 2025, and that in many cases tow companies had not properly notified the police department, leading officers and detectives to spend substantial time determining whether vehicles were stolen or lawfully removed. "It becomes an arduous task ... trying to figure out exactly what happened," Jacobson said.
The draft ordinance, prepared with city attorney Lenman, would require tow companies that remove vehicles within city limits to obtain permits through the city's Oxcart permitting system, charge a $15 permitting fee per vehicle and create a tiered fine structure with penalties ranging from $100 to $500 per offense. Jacobson said the current ordinance only specifies a single general fine (limited at $100) and does not allow escalation for multiple offenses.
Committee members asked about implementation and enforcement. Jacobson said once the council adopts the ordinance and any required public‑notice period elapses, the police department would notify affected businesses and could have the permitting process operational within about a week. He said department personnel would hand‑deliver copies of the ordinance to establishments that contract with tow companies to educate them on the new requirements.
Members also discussed the difference between private and public parking areas; Jacobson said the notification requirement applies broadly but that problems prompting the rewrite have been concentrated in private lots. The committee asked whether tow companies should be required to notify the department when they pick up a vehicle; Jacobson said he would check with Attorney Lenman about adding a pickup‑notification requirement before finalizing the ordinance.
Alderman Wider moved to recommend council approval of the draft ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried. The committee's vote was recorded as several members saying "I" in favor; the transcript does not list individual roll‑call votes.
