625 ILCS 5/ Illinois Vehicle Code.

(625 ILCS 5/18a-300) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-300)

Sec. 18a-300. Commercial vehicle relocators - Unlawful practices. It shall be unlawful for any commercial vehicle relocator:

(1) To operate in any county in which this Chapter is applicable without a valid, current relocator's license as provided in Article IV of this Chapter;

(2) To employ as an operator, or otherwise so use the services of, any person who does not have at the commencement of employment or service, or at any time during the course of employment or service, a valid, current operator's employment permit, or temporary operator's employment permit issued in accordance with Sections 18a-403 or 18a-405 of this Chapter; or to fail to notify the Commission, in writing, of any known criminal conviction of any employee occurring at any time before or during the course of employment or service;

(3) To employ as a dispatcher, or otherwise so use the services of, any person who does not have at the commencement of employment or service, or at any time during the course of employment or service, a valid, current dispatcher's or operator's employment permit or temporary dispatcher's or operator's employment permit issued in accordance with Sections 18a-403 or 18a-407 of this Chapter; or to fail to notify the Commission, in writing, of any known criminal conviction of any employee occurring at any time before or during the course of employment or service;

(4) To operate upon the highways of this State any vehicle used in connection with any commercial vehicle relocation service unless:

(A) There is painted or firmly affixed to the vehicle on both sides of the vehicle in a color or colors vividly contrasting to the color of the vehicle the name, address and telephone number of the relocator. The Commission shall prescribe reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to insignia to be painted or firmly affixed to vehicles and shall waive the requirements of the address on any vehicle in cases where the operator of a vehicle has painted or otherwise firmly affixed to the vehicle a seal or trade mark that clearly identifies the operator of the vehicle; and

(B) There is carried in the power unit of the vehicle a certified copy of the currently effective relocator's license and operator's employment permit. Copies may be photographed, photocopied, or reproduced or printed by any other legible and durable process. Any person guilty of not causing to be displayed a copy of his relocator's license and operator's employment permit may in any hearing concerning the violation be excused from the payment of the penalty hereinafter provided upon a showing that the license was issued by the Commission, but was subsequently lost or destroyed;

(5) To operate upon the highways of this State any vehicle used in connection with any commercial vehicle relocation service that bears the name or address and telephone number of any person or entity other than the relocator by which it is owned or to which it is leased;

(6) To advertise in any newspaper, book, list, classified directory or other publication unless there is contained in the advertisement the license number of the relocator;

(7) To remove any vehicle from private property without having first obtained the written authorization of the property owner or other person in lawful possession or control of the property, his authorized agent, or an authorized law enforcement officer. The authorization may be on a contractual basis covering a period of time or limited to a specific removal;

(8) To charge the private property owner, who requested that an unauthorized vehicle be removed from his property, with the costs of removing the vehicle contrary to any terms that may be a part of the contract between the property owner and the commercial relocator. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a relocator from assessing, collecting, or receiving from the property owner, lessee, or their agents any fee prescribed by the Commission;

(9) To remove a vehicle when the owner or operator of the vehicle is present or arrives at the vehicle location at any time prior to the completion of removal, and is willing and able to remove the vehicle immediately, except for vehicles that require a commercial driver's license to operate. Vehicles that require a commercial driver's license to operate shall be disconnected from the tow truck and the owner or operator shall be allowed to remove the vehicle without interference upon the payment of a reasonable service fee of not more than one-half of the posted rate of the towing service per tow vehicle on the scene and up to a maximum of 2 tow vehicles as provided in paragraph 6 of subsection (f) of Section 4-203 of this Code, for which a receipt shall be given;

(10) To remove any vehicle from property on which signs are required and on which there are not posted appropriate signs under Section 18a-302;

(11) To fail to notify law enforcement authorities in the jurisdiction in which the trespassing vehicle was removed within one hour of the removal. Notification shall include a complete description of the vehicle, registration numbers if possible, the locations from which and to which the vehicle was removed, the time of removal, and any other information required by regulation, statute or ordinance;

(12) To impose any charge other than in accordance with the rates set by the Commission as provided in paragraph (6) of Section 18a-200 of this Chapter;

(13) To fail, in the office or location at which relocated vehicles are routinely returned to their owners, to prominently post the name, address and telephone number of the nearest office of the Commission to which inquiries or complaints may be sent;

(13.1) To fail to distribute to each owner or operator of a relocated vehicle, in written form as prescribed by Commission rule or regulation, the relevant statutes, regulations and ordinances governing commercial vehicle relocators, including, in at least 12 point boldface type, the name, address and telephone number of the nearest office of the Commission to which inquiries or complaints may be sent;

(13.2) To fail, in the office or location at which relocated vehicles are routinely returned to their owners, to ensure that the relocator's representative provides suitable evidence of his or her identity to the owners of relocated vehicles upon request;

(14) To remove any vehicle, otherwise in accordance with this Chapter, more than 15 air miles from its location when towed from a location in an unincorporated area of a county or more than 10 air miles from its location when towed from any other location;

(15) To fail to make a telephone number available to the police department of any municipality in which a relocator operates at which the relocator or an employee of the relocator may be contacted at any time during the hours in which the relocator is engaged in the towing of vehicles, or advertised as engaged in the towing of vehicles, for the purpose of effectuating the release of a towed vehicle; or to fail to include the telephone number in any advertisement of the relocator's services published or otherwise appearing on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act; or to fail to have an employee available at any time on the premises owned or controlled by the relocator for the purposes of arranging for the immediate release of the vehicle.

Apart from any other penalty or liability authorized under this Act, if after a reasonable effort, the owner of the vehicle is unable to make telephone contact with the relocator for a period of one hour from his initial attempt during any time period in which the relocator is required to respond at the number, all fees for towing, storage, or otherwise are to be waived. Proof of 3 attempted phone calls to the number provided to the police department by an officer or employee of the department on behalf of the vehicle owner within the space of one hour, at least 2 of which are separated by 45 minutes, shall be deemed sufficient proof of the owner's reasonable effort to make contact with the vehicle relocator. Failure of the relocator to respond to the phone calls is not a criminal violation of this Chapter;

(16) To use equipment which the relocator does not own, except in compliance with Section 18a-306 of this Chapter and Commission regulations. No equipment can be leased to more than one relocator at any time. Equipment leases shall be filed with the Commission. If equipment is leased to one relocator, it cannot thereafter be leased to another relocator until a written cancellation of lease is properly filed with the Commission;

(17) To use drivers or other personnel who are not employees or contractors of the relocator;

(18) To fail to refund any amount charged in excess of the reasonable rate established by the Commission;

(19) To violate any other provision of this Chapter, or of Commission regulations or orders adopted under this Chapter;

(20) To engage in the removal of a commercial motor vehicle that requires a commercial driver's license to operate by operating the vehicle under its own power on a highway without authorization by a law enforcement officer.

(Source: P.A. 99-438, eff. 1-1-16.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-301) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-301)

Sec. 18a-301. Commercial vehicle relocators - Security requirements. Every commercial vehicle relocator shall file with the Commission and have in effect an indemnity bond or insurance policy or certificates of bonds or insurance in lieu thereof which shall indemnify or insure the relocator for its liability: (1) for injury to person, in an amount not less than $100,000 to any one person and $300,000 for any one crash; (2) in case of damage to property other than a vehicle being removed, in an amount not less than $50,000 for any one crash; and (3) in case of damage to any vehicle relocated or stored by the relocator, in an amount not less than $15,000 per vehicle. Any such bond or policy shall be issued by a bonding or insurance firm authorized to do business as such in the State of Illinois. All certificates or indemnity bonds or insurance filed with the Commission must show the coverage effective continuously until cancelled, and the Commission may require such evidence of continued validity as it deems necessary.

(Source: P.A. 102-982, eff. 7-1-23.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-302) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-302)

Sec. 18a-302. Owner or other person in lawful possession or control of private property - Right to employ relocation service. It shall be unlawful for an owner or other person in lawful possession or control of private property to remove or employ a commercial relocator to remove an unauthorized vehicle from such property unless written notice is provided to the effect that such vehicles will be removed, including the name, address and telephone number of the appropriate commercial vehicle relocator, if any. Such notice shall consist of a sign, posted in a conspicuous place in the affected area, of a size at least 24 inches in height by 36 inches in width. Such sign shall be at least 4 feet from the ground but less than 8 feet from the ground and shall be either illuminated or painted with reflective paint, or both. Such sign shall state the amount of towing charges to which the person parking may be subject. This provision shall not be construed as prohibiting any unit of local government from imposing additional or greater notice requirements.

No express notice shall be required under this Section upon residential property which, paying due regard to the circumstances and the surrounding area, is clearly reserved or intended exclusively for the use or occupation of residents or their vehicles.

(Source: P.A. 81-332.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-303) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-303)

Sec. 18a-303. Civil and Criminal liability. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to limit or alter the vehicle owner's civil or criminal liability for trespass. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to limit or alter the civil or criminal liability of any person or entity for any act or omission. All penalties accruing under this Law shall be cumulative of each other and a suit for recovery of one penalty shall not bar or affect the recovery of another penalty.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-304) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-304)

Sec. 18a-304. Operators - Unlawful Practices. It shall be unlawful for any operator:

(1) To act as an operator without a valid, current operator's employment permit.

(2) To violate any other provision of this Chapter, or of Commission regulations or orders adopted under this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-305) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-305)

Sec. 18a-305. Aiding and abetting. It shall be unlawful for any person to aid or abet in any violation of this Chapter, or of Commission regulations or orders adopted under this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-306) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-306)

Sec. 18a-306. Equipment Leasing. Provisions in Section 18c-4103 of the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, as amended, shall likewise govern equipment leasing by relocators except to the extent as otherwise provided in this Law.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-307) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-307)

Sec. 18a-307. Enforcement. Provisions in Article VII of subchapter 1 of the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, governing enforcement of the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, shall likewise govern the enforcement of this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/Ch. 18a Art. IV heading) ARTICLE IV. LICENSES

(625 ILCS 5/18a-400) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-400)

Sec. 18a-400. Relocator's licenses - Applications, original determinations. (a) Each application for a license to operate as a commercial vehicle relocator shall be made in writing to the Commission, shall be verified under oath, shall be in such form and contain such information as the Commission may by regulation require, and shall be accompanied by the required application fee and proof of security.

(b) Upon the filing of such application, the Commission shall, within a reasonable time, fix a time and place for public hearing thereon. At least 10 days before the hearing, the Commission shall notify the applicant and all parties of record to such proceeding of the time and place of such hearing, by mailing a notice thereof to each such party to the address of such party shown in the records of such proceeding. Any person having an interest in the subject matter may appear at the hearing in support of or in objection to the application.

(c) The applicant shall publish a notice on a form prescribed by the Commission covering the filing of such application at least 10 days prior to the time of the initial hearing in (i) the official newspaper selected by the Department of Finance of the State of Illinois pursuant to Section 4 of the Illinois Purchasing Act, and (ii) a secular newspaper of general circulation and published in the county in the State of Illinois, wherein the applicant or applicants propose to maintain their principal office and place of business within the State of Illinois. The Commission may by regulation or otherwise order applicants to give such further notice as it deems required. The Commission may give additional notice of the filing of such application as it may deem reasonable and proper as prescribed in its rules. The Director of the Department of Finance of the State of Illinois for the purposes hereof shall over his or her signature as such Director annually and immediately upon selecting the official newspaper certify to the Illinois Commerce Commission the name and address of said newspaper, together with the date of expiration of the period of one year for which said newspaper was so selected and the Commission shall filemark each such certification as of the date it receives the same and shall keep an official file of said certifications of said Director conveniently available at its office in Springfield, Illinois; provided, however, that in any and all events and for all purposes of this Section and this Chapter, should the aforesaid Director for any reason fail to make said certification annually, the newspaper set forth in the certification aforesaid of said Director filemarked by the Commission as of the most recent date shall be the official newspaper in which publication is required hereby. In case publication is required hereby in a newspaper published in a particular county and no newspaper is so published, then and in that case publication shall be made in a newspaper published in the closest county thereto which meets the circulation requirements of this Section.

(d) The Commission shall issue a relocator's license to any qualified applicant therefor after hearing, pursuant to an application filed, if it is found that the applicant is fit, willing and able properly to perform the service proposed and to conform to provisions of this Chapter and the requirements, rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; otherwise such application shall be denied. The order of the Commission granting or denying a relocator's license shall set forth the specific findings of fact on which such order is based. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter no such license shall be issued to any person who has failed to pay any registration fee or any tax due from such person to the State of Illinois for the privilege of operating any motor vehicle on the public highways in the State of Illinois.

(e) Operation over the public highways of this State conducted pursuant to a relocator's license shall be in conformity with all of the laws of this State pertaining to motor vehicle operation over such public highways.

(f) No relocator's license shall confer any proprietary or property rights in the use of the public highways.

(Source: P.A. 80-1459.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-401)

Sec. 18a-401. Relocator's licenses - Expiration and renewal. All relocator's licenses shall expire 2 years from the date of issuance by the Commission. The Commission may temporarily extend the duration of a license for the pendency of a renewal application until formally approved or denied. Upon filing, no earlier than 90 days nor later than 45 days prior to such expiration, of written application for renewal, verified under oath, in such form and containing such information as the Commission shall by regulation require, and accompanied by the required application fee and proof of security, the Commission shall, unless it has received information of cause not to do so, renew the license. If the Commission has information of cause not to renew such license, it shall so notify the applicant, and shall hold a hearing as provided for in Section 18a-400. The Commission may at any time during the term of the license make inquiry into the management, conduct of business, or otherwise to determine that the provisions of this Chapter 18A and the regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder are being observed.

(Source: P.A. 82-616.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-402) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-402)

Sec. 18a-402. Relocator's license - Transfer. A relocator's license is not transferable.

(Source: P.A. 80-1459.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-403) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-403)

Sec. 18a-403. Operator's or dispatcher's employment permits - Applications, original determinations. (1) Each application for an operator's or dispatcher's employment permit shall be made in writing to the Commission, shall be acknowledged before a notary public, shall be in such form and shall contain such information as the Commission may by regulation require, and shall be accompanied by the required application fee and proof, in a form prescribed by the Commission, that the operator applicant has a valid driver's license issued by the Secretary of State.

(2) Upon the filing of such application, the Commission shall conduct an investigation of the criminal record, if any, of the applicant. The Commission shall, within 3 working days, issue to any new applicant for an employment permit a provisional operator's or dispatcher's employment permit unless the Commission finds that the applicant has committed an offense for which the permit could be revoked under Section 18a-404 of this Chapter. This provisional employment permit shall be valid for a period of 1 year unless suspended or revoked by order of the Commission. At the end of 1 year, the provisional permit shall automatically become permanent unless the permit was revoked by order of the Commission during the preceding year. The permanent permit shall remain valid unless suspended or revoked by order of the Commission under this law.

(3) The permit shall identify the operator or dispatcher by name and address, and shall identify the relocator by which the operator or dispatcher will be employed by name, address and relocator's permit number. The permit shall be valid only when the operator or dispatcher is employed by the relocator identified thereon.

Operation over the public highways of this State conducted pursuant to an operator's license issued under the provisions of this Section shall be in conformity with all the laws of this State pertaining to motor vehicle operation over such public highways.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-404) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-404)

Sec. 18a-404. Operator's and dispatcher's employment permits - Revocation.

(1) The Commission shall suspend or revoke the permit of an operator if it finds that:

(a) The operator or dispatcher made a false statement on the application for an operator's or dispatcher's employment permit;

(b) The operator's or dispatcher's driver's license issued by the Secretary of State has been suspended or revoked;

(c) The operator or dispatcher has been convicted, during the preceding 5 years, of any criminal offense of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdiction involving any of the following, and the holder does not make a compelling showing that he is nevertheless fit to hold an operator's license:

(i) Bodily injury or attempt to inflict bodily injury to another;

(ii) Theft of property or attempted theft of property; or

(iii) Sexual assault or attempted sexual assault of any kind; or

(d) The operator or dispatcher has, during the preceding 5 years, violated this Chapter, Commission regulations or orders, or any other law affecting public safety, and the holder does not make a compelling showing that he or she is nevertheless fit to hold an operator's license.

(2) The Commission, upon notification and verification of any conviction described in this Section, of any person to whom license has been issued, occurring within the 5 years prior to such issuance or any time thereafter, shall immediately suspend the employment permit of such person, and issue an order setting forth the grounds for revocation. The person and his employer shall be notified of such suspension. Such person shall not thereafter be employed by a relocator until a final order is issued by the Commission either reinstating the employment permit, upon a finding that the reinstatement of an employment permit to the person constitutes no threat to the public safety, or revoking the employment permit.

(3) If the employment permit is revoked, the person shall not thereafter be employed by a relocator until he obtains an employment permit license under Article IV of this Chapter.

(Source: P.A. 94-895, eff. 1-1-07; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-405) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-405)

Sec. 18a-405. Operator's employment permits - Expiration and renewal. All operator's employment permits shall expire 2 years from the date of issuance by the Commission. The Commission may temporarily extend the duration of an employment permit for the pendency of a renewal application until formally approved or denied. Upon filing, no earlier than 90 nor later than 45 days prior to such expiration, of written application for renewal, acknowledged before a notary public, in such form and containing such information as the Commission shall by regulation require, and accompanied by the required fee and proof of possession of a valid driver's license issued by the Secretary of State, the Commission shall, unless it has received information of cause not to do so, renew the applicant's operator's employment permit. If the Commission does not renew such employment permit, it shall issue an order setting forth the grounds for denial. The Commission may at any time during the term of the employment permit make inquiry into the conduct of the permittee to determine that the provisions of this Chapter 18A and the regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder are being adhered to.

(Source: P.A. 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-406) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-406)

Sec. 18a-406. Operator's employment permits - Transfer. An operator's employment permit is not transferrable to another operator or to another relocator.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-407) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-407)

Sec. 18a-407. Dispatcher's employment permits, expiration and renewal. All dispatcher's employment permits shall expire 2 years from the date of issuance by the Commission. The Commission may temporarily extend the duration of an employment permit for the pendency of a renewal application until formally approved or denied. Upon filing, no earlier than 90 nor later than 45 days prior to such expiration, of written application for renewal, acknowledged before a notary public, in such form and containing such information as the Commission shall by regulation require, and accompanied by the required fee, the Commission shall, unless it has received information of cause not to do so, renew the applicant's dispatcher's employment permit. If the Commission does not renew such employment permit, it shall issue an order setting forth the grounds for denial. The Commission may at any time during the term of the employment permit make inquiry into the conduct of the permittee to determine that the provisions of this Chapter 18A and the regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder are being observed.

(Source: P.A. 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(625 ILCS 5/18a-408) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18a-408)

Sec. 18a-408. Dispatcher's employment permit - Transfer. A dispatcher's employment permit is not transferable to another dispatcher or to another relocator.

(Source: P.A. 85-923.)