License revoked...but in Chicago that means business as usual...

[pbmus]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-lincoln-towing-license-revoked-20180912-story.html

Link to tweet

[frazzled]

1. Good riddance!

We got towed by Lincoln 7 or 8 years ago, and I’ll never forget the experience. Coming back from some errands we decided to stop and grab some burgers, as it was getting dark. Didn’t see a sign. Ran in and out in about 12 minutes and our car was gone. A young couple was looking confused and distraught, because their car was gone too. We took pity and told them that we were going to grab a cab and that they could come with us. A $40 cab ride later we arrive at a chain link, barbed wire junkyard of a place many miles away on the far, far west side. A greasy slob of a massive guy behind barred windows, with a big gun in clear view and the ugliest damned big mongrel dog with rotting fangs, told us we owed $180. We weren’t going to argue with him. We paid and drove home, fuming and regretting the most expensive hamburger we’d ever gotten.

These guys have been around for decades and decades. I hope they rot.

[former9thward]

2. Court puts them back in business.

Lincoln Towing can resume operations while it challenges decision to revoke its license, Cook County judge rules

Cook County Circuit Judge Neil Cohen issued the order five days after the Illinois Commerce Commission pulled the North Side firm’s state license. Cohen said Lincoln Towing Service was facing the “death penalty” if it remained closed during the appeals process.

I think some of this was election season game playing.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

3. If you read the administrative judge ruling you see the state's case was wayyyy overstated.

The alleged 800 “violations” boiled down to a handful of verified claims where Lincoln paid fines or refunds.

The state has procedures in place to investigate and adjudicate complaints. The state couldn’t be bothered.


Everybody has an excuse why they shouldn’t have been towed. “I was just there for 10 minutes” seems to be the big one. Or I didn’t see the signs is the next (I guess you assumed this big empty private lot was just there for your own free convenience).

As someone who lives two blocks from Wrigley Field, I appreciate having a company who can yank someone off my property when I come home late and want to park in my spot I paid $25,000 for the privilege of parking in.

The last asshole I had towed was clearly was watching for a truck so I know he saw me honking for fair warning before I called the hook. Unfortunately for him
The Pirates came in lights off in stealth mode and had him hooked before he could run out yelling”hey that’s my car!!! “

The best was the guy calling his mom to borrow $200 dollars and telling his mom there were no signs as he stood in front of the 48 inch by 48 inch “no parking tow zone” sign.


Way hay hall ‘me away, the Lincoln Park Pirates are we.

To me way, hay
Tow them away
We plunder the streets of your town
Be it Edsel or Chevy there's no car to heavy
And no one can make us shut down
We break into cars when we gotta
With pick axe and hammer and saw
And they said that this garage had no license
But little care I for the law
All my drivers are friendly and courteous
Their good manners ya always will get
'Cause they're all recent graduates of the charm school in Joliet