City of Chicago Police officers can tow, or “impound,” your vehicle for a number of municipal violations committed in connection with using your vehicle.  These include unlawful possession of a firearm, drugs, or fireworks in a vehicle; driving while intoxicated or without a valid license; fleeing from the police; and driving an unlicensed public passenger vehicle.

In order to retrieve your vehicle, you’ll have to either pay a hefty fine and storage fees, or file a request in writing for a hearing within fifteen days of receiving notice of the impoundment.  If you can successfully prove at either the preliminary hearing (the first stage) or full hearing (the second stage) that the Chicago Police wrongfully impounded your car, your car will be released without being forced to pay the fine or storage fees. 

At the preliminary hearing, an Administrative Law Judge will determine, based mainly on the Vehicle Impoundment Seizure Report, whether there was probable cause for the Chicago Police to have impounded your vehicle.  If the Report is filled out incorrectly, the facts contained in the report are found insufficient to justify an impoundment, or if you can successfully present certain defenses, your car will be released without having to pay any fines.  A knowledgeable advocate will be able to help pinpoint flaws in the report which a rushed judge might miss and help you ascertain whether any defense to impoundment are available to you. Thus, an attorney can help save you the significant cost of the impoundment fees as well as the time and aggravation of a full hearing. 

If the Report is both correct and alleges sufficient cause to support an impoundment, there will be a full hearing where the City brings police officers to testify regarding the violation leading to the impoundment.  Before your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your evidence and ensure you don’t miss any critical filings or deadlines.  At the hearing, your attorney can present your situation in the most favorable light, and ensure the City is forced to meet its burden of proof, giving you the best possible chance of reclaiming your car without lining the City’s coffers.      

Two excellent informational sheets on vehicular impoundment, published by the City of Chicago, can be found here: (1) http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/ah/supp_info/vip/vip_fact_sheet.html
(2) http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/ah/supp_info/faq/municipal_faqs.html

If you have a Chicago Municipal Code violation, and want to discuss your options and defenses, contact now Aaron Fox Law for professional, high-caliber, legal expertise by email at afox@aaronfoxlaw.comby phone at (312) 224-0028, or by filling out and submitting the interactive form below.  We look forward to representing you.

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Most Common Violations

Drugs in Vehicle or Drugs On a Person who was in Vehicle (MCC 7-24-225)

When drugs are found in the vehicle or on a person who was in the vehicle, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for violation of the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC 7-24-225).

The owner of the vehicle, NOT the driver, is responsible and liable for the impoundment fees.

The fine on this ordinance violation impoundment is $2000.  However, there may be some aggravating factors that can increase the fine amount.  If the violation occurred within 500 feet of a public park or school, there is an additional $1000 fine.  Also, if the car was Gone on Arrival (G.O.A. - which means, that the car was taken before the tow truck driver came to tow the car away), then there is an additional fine of anywhere between $1000 to $2000.  There are no court costs associated with having a preliminary hearing or a full impoundment hearing. 

Please Note: There are high fees for allowing your car to stay in the pound. The tow fee is $150 and the storage fees are $10 for the first 5 days, and then $35 per day thereafter. These fees are waived if you win at the full hearing or preliminary hearing.  Also, there are strict time requirements as to when you can request a preliminary hearing or a full hearing.  

You should consult with an attorney on these matters.

 

Driving Under the Influence (MCC 7-24-226(a))

When the person driving the vehicle was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for violation of the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC 7-24-226(a)).  

The owner of the vehicle, NOT the driver, is responsible and liable for the impoundment fees.

The fine on this ordinance violation impoundment is $2000.  However, there may be some aggravating factors that can increase the fine amount.  If the violation occurred within 500 feet of a public park or school, there is an additional $1000 fine.  Also, if the car was Gone on Arrival (G.O.A. - which means, that the car was taken before the tow truck driver came to tow the car away), then there is an additional fine of anywhere between $1000 to $2000.  There are no court costs associated with having a preliminary hearing or a full impoundment hearing. 

Please Note: There are high fees for allowing your car to stay in the pound. The tow fee is $150 and the storage fees are $10 for the first 5 days, and then $35 per day thereafter. These fees are waived if you win at the full hearing or preliminary hearing.  Also, there are strict time requirements as to when you can request a preliminary hearing or a full hearing.  

You should consult with an attorney on these matters.

 

 

Suspended License (MCC 9-80-240)

When the person driving the vehicle was driving with a revoked or suspended license, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for violation of the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC 9-80-240).  

The owner of the vehicle, NOT the driver, is responsible and liable for the impoundment fees.

The fine on this ordinance violation impoundment is $1000.  However, there may be some aggravating factors that can increase the fine amount.  If the car was Gone on Arrival (G.O.A. - which means, that the car was taken before the tow truck driver came to tow the car away), then there is an additional fine of anywhere between $1000 to $2000.  There are no court costs associated with having a preliminary hearing or a full impoundment hearing. 

Please Note: There are high fees for allowing your car to stay in the pound. The tow fee is $150 and the storage fees are $10 for the first 5 days, and then $35 per day thereafter. These fees are waived if you win at the full hearing or preliminary hearing.  Also, there are strict time requirements as to when you can request a preliminary hearing or a full hearing.  

You should consult with an attorney on these matters.

 

Prostitution Solicitation (MCC 8-8-060)

When the vehicle was used in the act of soliciting a prostitute, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for violation of the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC 8-8-060).  

The owner of the vehicle, NOT the driver, is responsible and liable for the impoundment fees.

The fine on this ordinance violation impoundment is $2000.  However, there may be some aggravating factors that can increase the fine amount.  If the violation occurred within 500 feet of a public park or school, there is an additional $1000 fine.  Also, if the car was Gone on Arrival (G.O.A. - which means, that the car was taken before the tow truck driver came to tow the car away), then there is an additional fine of anywhere between $1000 to $2000.  There are no court costs associated with having a preliminary hearing or a full impoundment hearing. 

Please Note: There are high fees for allowing your car to stay in the pound. The tow fee is $150 and the storage fees are $10 for the first 5 days, and then $35 per day thereafter. These fees are waived if you win at the full hearing or preliminary hearing.  Also, there are strict time requirements as to when you can request a preliminary hearing or a full hearing.  

You should consult with an attorney on these matters.

Noise (MCC 9-76-145)

When the person in a vehicle had loud noise playing that was heard more than 75 feet away from the vehicle, the vehicle is subject to impoundment for violation of the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC 9-76-145).  

The owner of the vehicle, NOT the driver, is responsible and liable for the impoundment fees.

The fine on this ordinance violation impoundment is $2000.  However, there may be some aggravating factors that can increase the fine amount.  If the violation occurred within 500 feet of a public park or school, there is an additional $1000 fine.  Also, if the car was Gone on Arrival (G.O.A. - which means, that the car was taken before the tow truck driver came to tow the car away), then there is an additional fine of anywhere between $1000 to $2000.  There are no court costs associated with having a preliminary hearing or a full impoundment hearing. 

Please Note: There are high fees for allowing your car to stay in the pound. The tow fee is $150 and the storage fees are $10 for the first 5 days, and then $35 per day thereafter. These fees are waived if you win at the full hearing or preliminary hearing.  Also, there are strict time requirements as to when you can request a preliminary hearing or a full hearing.  

You should consult with an attorney on these matters.

The Attorney You Want for Chicago Ordinance Violations.

Contact Aaron Fox Law