CHICAGO — Lincoln Towing might have had its license revoked, but it’s still able to keep picking up cars.
That’s what a judge has decided by granting Lincoln Towing a temporary restraining order. The order allows the controversial towing business to keep operating while it appeals the Illinois Commerce Commission ruling that stripped it of its license last week.
The commission’s members voted unanimously to revoke Lincoln Towing’s license, but the business is fighting that decision. The action came several months after a commission judge recommended the company get to keep its license.
“Although we are we disappointed that the court is allowing Lincoln Towing to resume operations, we are encouraged that the Court saw fit to place stringent conditions on Lincoln Towing that will remain in place during the pendency of the court proceeding,” said Victoria Crawford, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Commerce Commission, in a statement. “The commission stands by its finding that Lincoln Towing has not conducted its business with honesty and integrity and its ruling that the company is unworthy to hold a Commercial Vehicle Relocators License.”
The commission is working with the Attorney General’s Office to “defend” its decision to revoke Lincoln Towing’s license, Crawford said.
The company has faced hundreds of complaints and was even the subject of a song, “Lincoln Park Pirates.” The commission was shown evidence that Lincoln Towing was behind more than 800 “unauthorized property seizures,” commission Chairman Brien Sheahan said.
Lincoln Towing’s next court date is Dec. 13.
Lincoln Towing faced 464 complaints over a 21-month period that ended in in October 2017, according to numbers provided to DNAinfo Chicago. Lincoln Towing said the number of complaints was “miniscule,” and officials said 38 percent of the complaints were dismissed without further investigation.
Drivers complained the company had overcharged them, improperly prepared invoices and towed cars that were parked properly, among other things.