General Order G0703

4/8/2016 VehicleTowingandRelocationOperations

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ChicagoPoliceDepartment

GeneralOrderG0703

VEHICLETOWINGANDRELOCATIONOPERATIONS

ISSUEDATE: 29October2014 EFFECTIVEDATE: 01November2014

RESCINDS: 01January2012version

INDEXCATEGORY: ProcessingProperty

A. Thisdirective:

1. outlinesDepartmentpolicy,procedures,andresponsibilitiesrelatingtovehicle

towingoperations.

2. classifiestypesofvehicletowingoperations.

3. continues the Vehicle Tow Report (CPD11.413), which includes a

"Respondent" copy to be given to the person in control of the vehicle being

towed.

4. continuesproceduresfortowingatMidwayandO'HareAirports.

B. Department members will refer to the Special Order entitled "Vehicle Towing and

RelocationOperations"foradditionalproceduresfortheprocessingofvehicles.

The Department will enforce all ordinances and statutes which authorize towing, relocating,

and disposing of vehicles located on the public way, within legal guidelines. Members will

cooperate and assist other City departments and authorized private towing agencies during

emergency and nonemergency operations while continuing to provide essential police

services.

A. TheDepartmentofStreetsandSanitation(S&S):

1. is charged with the responsibility to remove or authorize the removal of

vehiclesfromanypublicwaytoanauthorizedautopound,Departmentgarage,

orrelocationsite(s).

2. utilizes private contractors to assist in towing vehicles from City streets.

Organizationsengagedintowing fortheCity ofChicagoand theirtowdrivers

willcomplywithallStatestatutesandCityordinances.

3. has its owndepartmental"VehicleTow Reports"and "Relocation Reports." In

addition,S&Spersonnel are authorized toissueViolation Notices to vehicles

foundinviolationofCityordinancespriortobeingtowedorrelocatedfromthe

location.S&S isempoweredby theCity to useitsownformswhentowingor

relocatingvehicles.

NOTE: DepartmentmemberswillnotduplicatetheeffortsofS&Sby

completing Chicago Police Department forms once the

I. PURPOSE

II. POLICY

III. GENERALINFORMATION

4/8/2016 VehicleTowingandRelocationOperations

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appropriatereportshavebeencompletedbyS&S.

4. willenterrelocatedvehicleinformationintocomputerterminalsaspartoftheir

responsibilities,whenworkingindependentoftheChicagoPoliceDepartment.

B. It is the policy of the Department of Streets and Sanitation that a vehicle subject to

towonCitypropertywillbetowedonceitismovedfromtheoriginallocationwhereit

wasparked.InsituationswhereDepartmentmembersarecalledtoascenetoresolve

a difference of opinion between a member of the public and a tow truck driver,

Departmentmembersaretoinformthecomplainantthatonceavehicleismovedfrom

theoriginallocationwherethevehiclewasparked,thetowwillbecompleted.

C. TowsareprovidedbytheDepartmentofStreetsandSanitation(S&S)oritsauthorized

towingagentstwentyfourhoursaday,sevendaysaweek.Requestsfortowswillbe

servicedinaccordancewithprioritiesestablishedbytheChicagoPoliceDepartment.

D. Cityauthorizedtowingvehicles willdisplay acolorcodedsignthatisclearlymarked:

CITY OF CHICAGO, DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND SANITATION, POLICE

TOWING.

E. Cityauthorizedtowtruckdriverswill:

1. carry an authorization card, when towing, that corresponds with the signs

displayedontheirtowtrucks.Thiscardauthorizesthepresentertocollectthe

VehicleTowandVehicleImpoundment/SeizureReportsfromthe"Tow"basket

indistrictstations.

NOTE: ThebasketshavebeenprovidedbyS&S,andwillbeclearly

marked:CITYOFCHICAGO,DEPARTMENTOFSTREETS

ANDSANITATION,POLICETOWING.

2. onlytowvehiclestoauthorizeddesignatedautopounds,unlesspriorapproval

is authorized by S&S (e.g. tow the vehicle to the district station or other

designatedautopound).

3. notrelocatevehiclesunlessanemergencyhasbeendeclaredbytheCity.

4. nottowvehicles:

a. that do not have a Vehicle Tow or Vehicle Impoundment/Seizure

Report.

b. thathavenotbeenassignedanS&StowingnumberbyOEMC.

c. until the report is approved by the appropriate supervisor and is

depositedinthedistrictstation"Tow"basket.

5. not be allowed to make private tows, such as assisting stranded motorists,

whiledisplayingtheCityofChicagotowsigns.

A. Departmentmembersrequestingavehicletowwill:

1. firstestablishifthevehicleisstolenorwantedforinvestigationinconnection

with a crime and is needed for further investigation by requesting a vehicle

IV. TOWPROCEDURES

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checkviathe OEMC dispatcher or,if equipped, witha portable dataterminal

(PDT).Whenitisdeterminedthatavehicleis:

a. wanted for investigation, the assigned member will ensure that the

vehicleisnottouchedormoveduntiltheappropriateinvestigativeunit

isnotifiedandinstructions are receivedregarding the processingand

towingofthevehicle.

b. stolen and the vehicle is not to be held for an investigation, the

Departmentmemberassignedwillfollowtheproceduresoutlinedinthe

Department directive entitled "Vehicle Theft and Wanted Vehicle

Procedures."

2. followtheproceduresoutlinedintheDepartmentdirectiveentitled:

a. "Impoundment of Vehicles for Municipal Code Violations" when

encountering incidents relative to impoundment of vehicles for

municipalcodeviolations.

b. "Seizure and Forfeiture of Vehicles, Vessel, and Aircraft" when

encountering incidents relative to the seizure of vehicles subject to

forfeiture.

c. "Repossessions" when encountering incidents relative to

repossessionsofvehicles.

3. in addition to other necessary reports, complete a VehicleTow Report (CPD

11.413).Whencompletingthereport,requestingmemberswill:

a. selectonlyonevehicletowclassification.

b. complete all the information requested by the report. A computer

check of the vehicles VIN must be completed and the information

recordedintheappropriatespaces.

c. document,withspecificity,thecircumstancesthatsupporttherequest

forthevehicletowinthenarrativesection.

d. attesttotheinformationcontainedinthereportbysigningandplacing

theirstarnumberontheVehicleTowReport.

NOTE: Department members will not be required to complete a

Vehicle Tow Report when a vehicle is subject to

impoundment orseizureandaVehicleImpoundment/Seizure

Reporthasbeencompleted.

4. not operate a vehicle to betowed unless a situation dictates its relocation

priortotowing.Amemberofatwopersonunitmaydrivethevehicletotheir

districtofassignment,districtofarrest,orotherpolicefacility,asappropriate.

a. A Department member may operate the vehicle to be towed without

theowner'sconsentwhenasituationdictatesitsrelocation.

b. A vehicle will be parked and locked in a police facility parking lot or

withincloseproximityofthefacilitywhereitcanbelegally,safely,and

continuouslyparked.

c. Department members will refrain from driving vehicles that present a

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safetyhazardtothemselvesormembersofthepublic(e.g.,vehicles

withapeeledorstrippedcolumn,antitheftalarmsthatmaycutoffthe

engine,inadequatebrakes,baldtires,transmissionproblems).

5. request a tow via OEMC to have the vehicle towed to a holding facility

controlledbytheCityofChicagooritsagents,and:

a. provide the OEMC dispatcher with the year, make, model, VIN, and

statelicenseplatenumber.

b. indicate whether the vehicle will "roll" (either two front or two rear

wheels have inflated tires) or must be towed using a "flatbed" tow

truck.

c. obtain an S&S towing number from the dispatcher. The S&S towing

number will be recorded on the Vehicle Tow Report in the box

provided.

NOTE: The S&S towing number will be in addition to any

requiredRecordsDivision(RD)number,ifapplicable.

6. attach the vehicle keys and fob to the Vehicle Tow Report for all vehicles

beingtowedforholdforinvestigationandconfidentialVINchecksonly.

a. Department members will attach the vehicle keys using a sealed,

small Evidence Envelope (CPD33.101), indicating the following

information:

(1) RecordsDivision(RD)number.

(2) Dateofthetow.

(3) Vehicle information including the year, make, model, color,

and license plate or vehicle identification number, as

available.

b. Department members will only attach the vehicle's keys or

alarm/remote key fobs to the report. Other keys not associated with

theoperationorsecurityofthetowedvehicle(e.g.,housekey,locker

keys)willbereturnedtothepersonauthorizedtopossessthekeys.

c. ALL OTHER VEHICLE TOWS WILL NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE

KEY(S) ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE TOW REPORT. The

requestingmemberwill ensure that keys pertainingtothevehicleare

returned to the person authorized to possess the keys, (a registered

owner,authorizedordesignateddriver)orareinventoriedaccordingly.

7. removeandinventorypersonalpropertyfoundwithinthevehicle.Ifkeysarein

thevehicle,personalpropertywithinalockedglovecompartmentortrunkwill

be removed and inventoried. The property inventory number will be indicated

ontheVehicleTowReport.Insituationswherepersonalpropertyisdiscovered

in a vehicle that has been towed into an auto pound, OEMC will dispatch a

vehicle from the district where the auto pound is located to inventory the

property in accordance with the Department directive entitled "Processing

PropertyUnderDepartmentControl."

NOTE: Department members will contact the Evidence and

Recovered Property Section for technical advice (24 hours)

priortotowingavehiclethatcontainsperishablegoods,such

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asmeatsorproduce.

8. obtain the approval of the appropriate supervisor on the Vehicle Tow Report

and:

a. givethe"Respondent"copytothepersonincontrolofthevehicle.

NOTE: When towing a parked vehicle, submit the

"Respondent"withthe"RequestingUnit"copy.

b. forholdforinvestigationandconfidential VINchecks,submitVehicle

TowReportandvehiclekeysandfobtothedistrictstationsupervisor

whowillensuresafekeepinguntilarrivaloftowtrickdriver.

c. forallothertows,placethe"TowTruckDriver"and"RequestingUnit"

copy of the Vehicle Tow Report in the Streets and Sanitation "Tow"

Basket.

NOTE: Upon their arrival, tow truck drivers will sign the

VehicleTow Report andleavethe "RequestingUnit"

copy of the report in the basket for use by district

reviewpersonnel.

B. WhennotifiedbythedistrictstationsupervisorthattheS&Stowtruckdriverisatthe

station and prepared to complete a tow for hold for investigation or confidential VIN

check,theassignedmemberwillreporttothedistrictstationand:

1. receiveaDepartmentissuedziptiefromthedistrictstationsupervisor,

2. escort the Streets & Sanitation tow truck driver to the location of the towed

vehicle,

3. uponarrivaltothelocationoftowedvehicle,ziptiethevehiclekeysandfobto

thevehiclesteeringwheel,leavingthevehicleunlocked.

C. OEMCdispatcherswillenterimmediatetowdataintothecomputerinaccordancewith

existingprocedures.

D. Districtdeskpersonnelwill:

1. placethemarked"Tow"basket,providedby S&S,inalocationaccessible to

Departmentmembersandtowdrivers.

2. provideS&Sdispatchers,(whowillcallviaPAX)thecorrectnumberoforiginal

VehicleTowReports in thetowbasketat the desk. Tow truck driversarenot

authorizedtoascertainthissameinformation.

3. verify the identity of the responding tow truck driver by examining their

authorizationcard.

E. DistrictStationSupervisorwillensurethat:

1. Vehicle Tow Reports are filled out completely, reviewed for accuracy, and, if

appropriate,approvedpriortothevehiclebeingtowed.

2. approved Vehicle Tow Reports are deposited in the marked "Tow" basket

4/8/2016 VehicleTowingandRelocationOperations

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locatedinthedistrictstation.

3. desk personnel provide S&S dispatchers the correct number of Vehicle Tow

Reportsinthebasket.

4. thetow truckdriverretrievestheVehicleTowReport fromthe district station,

signsthereport,andleavesthe"RequestingUnit"copyatthedesk.

5. vehiclesthataregoneonarrival(GOA)areprocessedaccordingly.

6. Vehicle Tow Reports indicating "Hold  Confidential VIN Check" or "Hold for

InvestigationWanted Vehicle" have the vehicle keys and fob attached and

secureduntilthearrivalofthetowtruckdriver.

7. upon arrival of the S&S tow truck driver to tow a vehicle for hold for

investigationorconfidentialVINcheck,ensureanavailableunitisassignedto

escortthetowtruckdrivertothelocationofthetowedvehicleanduponarrival

tothelocationoftowedvehicle,ziptiethevehiclekeysandfobtothevehicle

steeringwheel,withDepartmentissuedziptie,leavingthevehicleunlocked.

F. In the event OEMC is notified that a vehicle to be towed is gone on arrival (GOA),

OEMC will dispatch the unit which requestedthe tow to the scene.Ifthat unitis not

available,thenearestavailableunitwillbedispatchedtothescene.

1. Upon verification of the GOA, the assigned member will prepare a

Supplementary Report if the vehicle had been previously reported stolen or

wasinvolvedinanincidentrequiringacasereport.Theassignedmemberwill:

a. obtain the RD number and the S&S towing number from the OEMC

dispatcher, the original Vehicle Tow Report available from the tow

truckdriveriftheyarestillonthescene,orthedistrictcopyavailable

atthedistrictstation.

b. record the required information and particulars of the GOA on the

SupplementaryReportindicatingonecopytotheAutoDesk.

c. indicateGOA inthenarrative section of the VehicleTow Report, and

notifytheOEMCdispatchertocancelthetowrequest.

2. Upon verification of the GOA, and no case report applies, the assigned

memberwillindicateGOA inthenarrativesectionofthe VehicleTow Report,

andnotifytheOEMCdispatchertocancelthetowrequest.

3. The assigned member will submit all GOA reports to their district station

supervisor.

G. TowofanArrestee'sVehicle

1. Avehiclerelatedtoanarrestwillbetowedifthevehiclehasevidentiaryvalue;

the vehicle cannot be safely driven to the detention facility by authorized

police personnel; the vehicle cannot be legally, securely, and continuously

parked at the scene of the arrest; orthe arrestee does not authorizeanother

person to take control of the vehicle. An intoxicated person will not be

permittedtotakecontrolofthevehicleatanytime.

NOTE: Departmentmemberswillindicatetheappropriateviolationon

theVehicleTowReport.

4/8/2016 VehicleTowingandRelocationOperations

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2. Vehiclesrelatedtoanarrestthataresubjecttoimpoundmentorseizurewillbe

processed in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Department

directives entitled "Impoundment of Vehicles for Municipal Code Violations"

and"SeizureandForfeitureofVehicles,Vessels,andAircraft."

NOTE: Departmentmemberswillindicatetheappropriateviolationon

theVehicleImpound/SeizureReport.

3. DepartmentmemberswillindicateontheArrestReport:

a. thedispositionofthevehicle(e.g.,towed,impounded,seized),and

b. thevehicledescriptorsincludingtheyear,make,model,licenseplate

number,andVIN,whenavailable.

4. A request foratowwillbecanceledifthearresteeis releasedon bailunless

the vehicle is being held for investigation, being seized, impounded under a

Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC), or held pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/4203,

which provides for a sixhour impoundment of a vehicle when a driver is

arrestedforviolationof 625 ILCS 11501 (Driving whileunderthe influenceof

alcohol,otherdrug,orcombinationofboth).

1. It is the district station supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that the

Vehicle Tow Report is still in the "Tow" basket prior to releasing the

vehicle. Anotationinthe narrative section of the VehicleTowReport

willbemadethatthevehiclewasreleasedtothearresteeandthetow

wascanceled.Theviolationmustbelistedonthetowreport.

2. The district station supervisor will notify the OEMC dispatcher to

cancelthetowrequestwithS&Soritsauthorizedtowingagent.The S

&StowingnumberandR.D.number,ifapplicable,willbegiventothe

OEMCdispatcher.

H. AbandonedVehicles

1. When OEMC receives complaints or inquiries from members of the public

relating to abandoned autos, OEMC will ask the caller for the license plate

numberortheVINnumber,ifavailable,toestablishwhetheritisstolen.If:

a. the abandoned auto is reported stolen, OEMC will assign a district

fieldunittoinvestigatefurther.

b. it is determined that the vehicle is abandoned or the caller has no

vehicle information available, OEMC will transfer the caller to the

"311"NonEmergencyCityServiceRequestTelephoneNumber.

2. When responding to complaints (e.g. on view, beat community meetings,

OEMC assignment, etc.) of abandoned autos, Department members will first

establishiftheabandonedautoisstolen.Iftheabandonedvehicleis:

a. stolen,prepareandsubmittheappropriatecasereportsandrequesta

tow, if necessary, in accordance with the procedures established in

the Department directive entitled "Vehicle Theft and Wanted Vehicle

Procedures."

b. not stolen, members will complete a City Service Request (CPD

21.208) and submit the completed form to the community policing

office.

4/8/2016 VehicleTowingandRelocationOperations

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NOTE:

TheDepartmentnolongerhandlesabandonedautos.

Members are not to complete a Vehicle Tow Report

forabandonedautos.Whenitbecomesnecessaryto

remove an abandoned auto from the public way, a

CityServiceRequestwillbecompletedasoutlinedin

theDepartmentdirectiveentitled"ChicagoAlternative

Policing Strategy (CAPS)." Members will still be

responsible forascertaining if the abandoned autois

stolenand completing the appropriatecasereportsif

it is established that the abandoned auto is indeed

stolen.

I. HazardTows

Department members will classifyan apparently abandoned vehicle as ahazardtow

onlyifthereisaclearandpresentdangertothesafetyofthecommunityorthevehicle

is obstructing traffic flow other than a traffic crash. When towing a vehicle as a

hazard, Department members will follow the procedures established in Item IVA of

thisdirective.

J. Overnightparkingprohibitions:

1. TheMunicipalCodeofChicago,964060,whichprohibitsovernightparkingon

designated streets will be strictly enforced. The City overnight parking ban

alongcertain arterial routesbecomes effectiveeveryyear from 01 December

through01Aprilbetweenthehoursof0300and0700hours.

2. Whenassigned,DepartmentmemberswillfirstverifythelicenseplatesorVIN

numberstoestablishifthevehiclesarereportedstolen.Ifthevehiclesarenot

reported stolen, the members will issue a Violation Notice citation to those

vehicles in violation of the overnight parking ban within their respective

districts.

3. Districtstationsupervisoronthesecondwatchwilltelephonetheofficeofthe

Chief, Bureau of Patrol, between 0700 and 0730 hours daily (except

Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) to report the number of Violation Notice

citationsissuedduringthepreviousfirstwatch.TheMondayreportwillinclude

informationforSaturdayandSundayactivity.Wheneveraholidayoccurs,the

reportwillbedueonthefirstbusinessdayaftertheholiday.

4. TheChief,BureauofPatrol,willdesignateamemberoftheirstafftoactasa

liaisonwithS&Sregardingtowingoperations.This memberwillcallS&Sprior

to0800hoursdaily(exceptSaturdayandSunday)toreceivethetotalnumber

oftows.

5. The Crime Prevention and Information Center (CPIC) will notify the district

stationsupervisors ineach of theaffected districts as tothelocationswhere

towingoperationswillbeineffect.

K. Emergency snow tow procedures for designated snow routes will be enforced after

more than two inches of snow has fallen as outlined in the Department directive

entitled"EmergencySnowPlanOperations."

A. For vehiclesthathaveaVehicleTow Report completed andthe ownerarrives on the

scenepriortotheliftingofthevehiclebythetowtruck,thevehiclemustbereleased

totheowner,whomustimmediatelymovethevehicle.

B. IfatowreportiscompletedbyanS&Semployeeandtheownerreturnstothescene

V. TOWPROCEDURESATO'HAREANDMIDWAYAIRPORTS

4/8/2016 VehicleTowingandRelocationOperations

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beforethevehiclehasbeenmovedfromtheoriginallocationwhereitwasparked,the

drivermustrequestanS&Ssupervisortodeterminetoreleaseortowthevehicle.

C. IfaVehicleTowReportiscompletedbyaDepartmentmember,andtheownerreturns

to the scene before the vehicle has been moved from the original location where it

was parked, the original requestor or their supervisor will make a determination to

releaseortowthevehicle.

(Itemsindicatedbyitalics/doubleunderlinewererevised.)

GarryF.McCarthy

SuperintendentofPolice

14088RWN

GLOSSARYTERMS:

1. VehicleTowingThetowingofvehiclesinvolvedincertainChicagoMunicipalCode

violations,suchas,violationoftowsigns,overnightparkingbananddesignatedsnow

routes.

ADDENDA:

1. G070301VehicleRelocationProcedures