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“Lincoln Park Pirates” one step closer to losing state towing license

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Illinois

ICC investigators concluded Lincoln Towing conducted 462 unauthorized tows in a seven month period they examined.

“Lincoln’s pattern and practice of conducting unauthorized relocations harms the public and demonstrates that Lincoln is incompetent and unworthy to hold a relocator’s license,” ICC staff concluded.

Lincoln Towing’s tactics have been the subject of complaints for decades. Folk singer Steve Goodman recorded a song in 1972 referring to the towing outfit as the “Lincoln Park Pirates.” At various times politicians have promised to shut the company down. After WGN Investigates reported the towing firm’s more recent troubles in January 2017, the ICC investigation intensified. Dozens of hearings took place as investigators and a lawyer for Lincoln Towing traded accusations.

“If I explained to you how many tows a year and how few violations we have, it’s like .0003 percent of 1 percent,” Lincoln lawyer Allen Perl told WGN in 2017. “Literally every 500 cars is a violation. That’s a pretty good record.”

The staff recommendation on whether the company should lose its license is here. The matter now goes before an administrative law judge.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:04 am

Comments

I’ll just say that in the 11 years I’ve lived in Chicago I’ve been towed twice, both by Lincoln Towing, and both times I went back to the spot and noticed the sign that was carefully hidden by the property owner.

It isn’t so much Lincoln Towing’s fault as it is the property owners who don’t make it obvious you can’t park there and purposefully hire Lincoln Towing to do their dirty work.

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:29 am
Ah, Steve Goodman. wonder if he would have made a song about “Flu Darvish” like he did for the Pirates.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:32 am
Fun with math: the ICC found 462 illegal tows in a seven month period. For Lincoln’s number of 1 in 500 being a violation they’d have to tow about 1100 cars a day. Which … is a bit much.

Comment by PJ Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:33 am
Anyone know who’s been their clout all these years?

Back in the day, when I had to pick up my car from their yard on North Clark, a snarling doberman had me pinned up against the fence for ten minutes. It wasn’t until a tow truck came in that the driver called him off.

But the dudes who sent me back there knew the dog was unchained. Nasty people.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:37 am
If you were a doctor and 1 in 500 patients died, you wouldn’t be a doctor very long.

Is there some industry standard by which 1 in 500 is a good rate? Why should there ever any towing violations?

Comment by titan Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:39 am
Nasty people sells them short, wordslinger.

When I first moved into the city, I saw them towing away the Domino’s man. The guy was running down the street after the truck carrying the pizza warmer and when he got up alongside the cab of the truck, the driver clocked the Domino’s guy with the door.

They won’t be missed.

Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:40 am
When you enter into that level of folklore, and you want to stay in business, a company better have high standards of professionalism. Pulling statistics out of… er… thin air doesn’t help your cause.

Comment by James Knell Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:41 am
Alan Perl …. clearly not a math major

Comment by The Way I See It Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:45 am
The ICC report is remarkable. Lincoln towed many vehicles from lots where contracts with them had been cancelled 5+ years before the tows, and one driver towed 358 vehicles during a six-month period where his operator license had lapsed. 831 violations in seven months. I don’t know how anyone can operate a business this way.

Comment by Tim Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:52 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE5HtTxxJRM

Comment by SAP Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:54 am
==.0003 percent of 1 percent,” Lincoln lawyer Allen Perl told WGN in 2017. “Literally every 500 cars is a violation.==

Obviously, math is not a pre-requisite.

Comment by City Zen Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:57 am
==Anyone know who’s been their clout all these years?==

For a long time they were owned by the Mob. *Supposedly* they aren’t anymore.

Comment by truth Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:59 am
Lincoln Towing is another example of what makes Chicago truly unique.

Comment by cgo75 Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:04 pm
Bye. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving business. It’s ridiculous it took this long.

Comment by Sonny Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:11 pm
More innumeracy. The bad guys depend on it.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:12 pm
John Fritchey is/was a lobbyist for Lincoln Towing.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:33 pm
If they lose their license, 2 bits says, they won’t stay closed very long. They will pull a Plumbo Brothers and reopen under another name.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 12:48 pm
Trump would say those are “pesky” regulations.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 1:50 pm
There’s a very good reason why all the ground-level windows of Lincoln Towing’s office are bricked-up.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:09 pm
I worked that beat back on the day. 4882 n clark st i cant forget that addtess. I have never seen people so upset anout their cars being towed. I dont want to disparage anyone here but if u met the drivers for this company you wouldnt be surprisef why their license is in jeopardy.

Comment by Regular democrat Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:12 pm
The Pirates have had a pretty good run. But, all things must pass.

Comment by Keyser Soze Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:14 pm
“And all our drivers went to charm school at Joliet………..way hey let’s tow them away the Lincoln Park pirates are we.”

Comment by Old and In The Way Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 2:53 pm
Can’t get rid of anything in Illinois except taxpayers.

Comment by 44th Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 3:42 pm
=Back in the day, when I had to pick up my car from their yard on North Clark, a snarling doberman had me pinned up against the fence for ten minutes.=

Right. I was yelling at this guy and a dog behind bullet-proof glass who just stood there silently staring at me until I got exhausted and finally stopped, took a breath and asked if they took credit cards. (They did.)

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 4:14 pm
=It isn’t so much Lincoln Towing’s fault=
Yes, it is.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 4:41 pm
To add insult to injury they charged me an additional 3% for using my credit card. At 1:30 am there was no point in arguing…. think of it as a convenience charge.

Comment by Old and In The Way Wednesday, May 9, 18 @ 11:30 pm