ICC Police
ICC Police
Mission
The mission of the ICC Police is to provide ethical, transparent, professional, and cost effective enforcement of the Illinois laws we are entrusted to enforce. We shall promptly and thoroughly investigate all allegations relating to motor carriers, household goods movers, relocation towers, repossessors, the towing of damaged or disabled vehicles, and personal property warehouses. The ICC Police regulate these entities through traffic enforcement, audits and investigation of consumer complaints. We shall assist in administering the applicable statutes by providing the Commission with comprehensive, accurate and timely recommendations and information in a professional manner.
In addition, we will participate in railroad education and safety activities to bring awareness to the public on the dangers and safety issues presented by railways.
We accomplish our mission through engaged and knowledgeable staff. This is achieved by recruiting, developing, and retaining, competent and diverse personnel, who strive for excellence. We will work to create and maintain a physical, intellectual, and psychologically healthy environment to sustain staff performance at the highest level. Our interactions with all people shall be respectful, unbiased and responsive. The Police Section’s top priorities are the safety of the public and consumer protection.
ICC Police can be contacted at 847-294-4326 and at 217-782-6171.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Q. Can I come in to the Des Plaines office to file an application?
A. No, all applications along with payment must be sent to the following address: Illinois Commerce Commission, Processing and Information Section, 527 East Capitol Ave., Springfield, Illinois 62701.
Q. How can I pay an administrative citation?
A. Administrative citations may be paid online at
or by completing the back of the citation and mailing payment to the Illinois Commerce Commission, Processing and Information Section, 527 East Capitol Avenue, Springfield, IL 62701.
Q. Is my ILCC # required to be displayed on my truck.
A. Yes, Illinois law requires that intrastate carriers display their license number on both sides of the power unit, unless the carrier is an interstate carrier in which case a USDOT # would be required to be displayed. Intrastate household goods carriers still have to display their ILCC # regardless if they also have interstate operations.
Collateral Recovery (Repossession)
Q. My vehicle was repossessed and the repossession agency will not release my personal property until I pay a fee. Is this legal?
A. Yes, the Collateral Recovery Act allows agencies to collect a reasonably incurred expense for the storage and inventory of the property.
Household Goods Movers
Q. What is the difference between valuation and insurance?
A. By selecting a minimum liability of .60 cents per pound per article of your shipment, you are accepting a cheaper rate to move your items. If a valuation is declared, for example $10,000, an additional charge will apply and the mover is only liable to repair or settle at a depreciated value of the item, whichever is less. If insurance is purchased by a third party, a certificate of insurance will be provided in your records. By law, the mover is not liable for the full value of your property during transportation. You may agree to declare your items for a higher value at an additional cost. The mover’s liability may be selected at .60 cents per pound per article at no additional cost. *If an item is lost or damaged, you are releasing your goods at .60 cents per pound per article if you choose this option. *PLEASE note that movers are not liable for any high valued items, unless noted on the bill of lading. Movers do not have additional liability for valuables such as jewelry, money, documents, medication, etc. Please carry these items with you during your move.
Q. Can you check my estimate to make sure rates are correct?
A. By contacting the Illinois Commerce Commission at 217-782-6448, a staff member can verify the rates on file. However, final charges are based on the actual time it takes to complete the move. If the final amount exceeds the estimate, only 110% of the estimated charges will be required at the end of the move and the customer will have 30 days to pay the remaining amount. *Estimates are based on the information provided by the shipper, or by a professionally trained staff member at an in-home inspection. If any changes are made to the inventory and/or information provided, this could affect the amount of estimated hours and the actual time it takes to the complete the move.
Police Authorized Tows
Q. May I file a complaint against a tow company when my car was towed at the direction of a local police department.
A. The Illinois Commerce Commission does not have jurisdiction when a vehicle is towed at the direction of the police.
Q. My vehicle was towed by the police and the towing agency is charging a high tow rate.
A. The Illinois Commerce Commission does not regulate police ordered tows and has no control over rates of police ordered tows.
Q. My car was towed off of a public street and I want to file a complaint.
A. The Illinois Commerce Commission does not have jurisdiction when a vehicle is towed off of a public street. You may file a complaint with the City from where your vehicle was towed.
Safety Towing Rates
Q. Does the Commission regulate the rates on accident tows?
A. No.
Relocation Towing
Q.I saw the sign with the relocator’s information but there is nothing posted explaining the parking rules. Is that legal?
A. Yes. The relocation tower is required to post a sign containing a warning that unauthorized vehicles will be relocated and the name, address and phone number of the relocator, the maximum towing fee, and their hours. The sign does not have to explain the parking rules or define what is an unauthorized vehicle.
Q. I parked at a business with relocation towing signs. If I’m a customer there, it’s ok if I stop by somewhere else for five minutes, right?
A. No. Once you leave the property that you parked at without taking your car with you, it’s considered a trespassing vehicle and is subject to tow.
Q. Can a towing company tow my car if I left the property for only 5 minutes?
A. Yes, there is no minimum time for a trespassing vehicle before it can be towed. Once the driver of the vehicle leaves the property the vehicle is subject to be towed.
Q. No one from the property requested my vehicle be relocated. Can the tower initiate a tow on their own?
A. Yes. Towing contracts can be either Call or Patrol. For a Call contract, a relocation tower can only initiate the removal of a specific vehicle if they are given authorization from an individual associated with the property. For a Patrol contract, a relocation tower can relocate vehicles without specific authorization. The criteria to remove a vehicle vary from property to property. The terms of the towing contract are not regulated by the ICC; they are between the tower and the property owner/manager.
Q. I live on a property where we are given parking permits. I forgot my parking permit, but the towing company can look up my plates and see that I live there, right?
A. No. The only people that can run your plates are law enforcement agencies, or specific entities authorized by law enforcement agencies. If your property management or HOA are issuing you a parking permit, that’s likely the only way the towing company has of knowing that your vehicle belongs there.
Q. How are relocation towing fees determined?
A. Relocation towing rates are set by the ICC. The rates shall not exceed the mean average of the 5 highest rates for police tows within the tower’s territory. The current maximum relocation rate for light-duty vehicles established by the Commission is $238.20. Relocators are permitted to include a $2.50 invoice fee. (Light-duty vehicles have a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating less than 8000 lbs.)
Q. The relocator told me I must pay cash to get my car back. Is that correct?
A. No, relocators must also accept major credit cards or cashier checks as payment.
Q. Can the ICC help me with damage done to my car by a towing company?
A. The ICC has no jurisdiction over damage claims, but we do require that all towing companies keep current insurance information on file with us as a condition of maintaining their licenses. We will provide this information over the phone, via email, or through U.S. mail. You may also inform your insurance carrier.
Vehicles Booted
Q. My car got booted on private property. Does the ICC handle those complaints?
A. No, we only regulate towing under state law. Private property booting is regulated by municipal (city) ordinances.