Council reviews proposed tiered administrative tow and related fees
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Summary
City staff proposed updating a 2007 administrative tow fee by adding a tiered structure (examples: $1,500 for aggravated felonies, $1,000 for DUIs/weapon offenses, $500 retained for some offenses); staff explained fees function like a bond and are appealable under statute.
City staff presented a proposed update to Blue Island's administrative tow fee structure during the Nov. 13 council meeting, saying the current code dates to 2007 and has not been revisited in nearly 20 years. A police representative explained the proposal would tier fees by offense severity: the highest tier could be $1,500 for aggravated felonies, a $1,000 tier for DUIs and weapons offenses, and the existing $500 rate would remain for certain offenses while adding other crimes into the $500 category.
The presenter said the fee operates like a bond the vehicle-owner pays to reclaim a car and that the owner can appeal at a later hearing; state law places limits on what tow yards can ultimately charge if courts determine the person was a victim or the vehicle is returned. Councilors asked whether the fee could be calculated hourly to better reflect officer time; staff said fees must be set amounts so they can withstand appeals and the common practice is to set amounts based on average hours.
No ordinance was adopted at the Nov. 13 meeting; the proposal was informational and staff invited follow-up questions and further review by council. The transcript records sample fee tiers and procedural points but no final fee schedule or adoption.