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CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago towing service, which was parodied into the popular song for its aggressive mode of operation, was shut out of its operating license Wednesday by Illinois regulators.
The Illinois Trade Commission voted unanimously to immediately revoke Lincoln Towing's license, ignoring the recommendation of an administrative law judge that the company must retain its license despite hundreds of alleged violations.
Commission Chair Brien Sheahan emphasized the preponderance of evidence that Lincoln Towing "did not conduct its business with honesty and integrity" for the commission's decision.
"This culminated in an investigation that lasted about two years," ICC spokeswoman Victoria Crawford said earlier this year about Wednesday 's decision.
According to Crawford, the investigation involved allegations of 462 unauthorized traits and 369 instances where the company used an unlicensed operator over an eight-month period in 2015 and 2016.
"I think it's a win for Chicago residents and visitors who have been towed badly," Crawford said.
Allen Perl, a lawyer representing Lincoln, said the company would fight against the ICC decision.
"Lincoln Towing will file the appropriate petition for a new hearing at the Trade Commission.If it fails, we will go to the circuit," said Perl. "Our position is that we will be allowed to stay open during the appeal process."
Crawford disagreed with this assessment, stating that the ICC was of the view that their license would be revoked immediately once the commission rendered its decision to Lincoln.
Lincoln Towing was nicknamed the "Lincoln Park Pirates" in a 1972 Steve Goodman folk song. The song parodied the company with the line: "There is no car too heavy and no one can make us shut".
In March 2016, the ICC began investigating Rendered Services, the state's second largest relocation towing company. A hearing in this case is scheduled for Thursday.
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