TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: William Evans, Chief of Police
SUBJECT:
title
Ordinances Amending Chapter 3, Article IV, Section 3-150, Pre-Tow Hearing; Inoperable or Abandoned Vehicles and Chapter 3, Article II, Section 3-50; Vehicle Immobilization and Impoundment and Chapter 19, Article II, Section 6 Illegally Parked, Abandoned, Inoperable or Stolen Vehicles of the City of Joliet Code of Ordinances
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BACKGROUND:
The Joliet Police Department conducts reviews of the City of Joliet Administrative Code to audit the relevance and effectiveness of the Code. The Joliet Police Department follows best practices in ensuring that the Code is consistent throughout. The proposed amendments to Chapter 3 establish that a pre-tow hearing regarding abandoned/inoperable vehicles must be requested in writing and such hearing will be held by representatives of the city legal department before said vehicle is towed. Also amended in Chapter 3 is language regarding illegally parked vehicles and states that if the registered owner of a vehicle is liable for 10 or more parking violations, the vehicle may be immobilized/impounded. The proposed amendment to Chapter 19 clarifies the procedure for removing abandoned/inoperable vehicles throughout the city and states that an abandoned/inoperable vehicle on private property and in view of the public may be towed or impounded after 14 days. If on public property, the vehicle may be towed or impounded after 7 days.
This item was reviewed at the Public Safety Committee Meeting held on August, 5, 2025 and recommended to the full Council for approval.
CONCLUSION:
These ordinances are intended to eliminate nuisances caused by illegally parked and abandoned/inoperable vehicles throughout the city. The proposed amendments are intended to clarify procedures regarding the removal of nuisance vehicles. A review of the abandoned vehicle and nuisance vehicle codes of neighboring communities reveals that this proposed change is not un...
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