Barrington imposes administrative tow fee to motorists for cars used in crimes

Barrington can now charge an administrative tow fee to motorists whose vehicles are impounded in connection with serious offenses.

The fee is part of a series of amendments to the village’s traffic code the village board passed Monday.

The fee, which ranges from $500 to $750, will apply to vehicles impounded in connection with such offenses as DUI, fleeing and eluding, unlawful use of weapons and serious drug offenses.

Police Chief Dave Daigle said the fee offsets expenses incurred by the police department for investigation, arrest, detention and processing of cases. It also places the financial responsibility on individuals for their actions, he said.

“On any given day, you have 70,000 vehicles that are passing through the village of Barrington,” he said.

In 2024, Barrington police made 266 criminal arrests, 55 of which would have qualified for the fee. He said the ordinance would mainly affect nonresidents.

Owners may request an emergency hearing within 48 hours of seizure, to be conducted by a police department supervisor.

If the vehicle is not released at that stage, the case proceeds to an administrative adjudication hearing. The ordinance allows for a default judgment if the owner fails to appear.

The code amendments boost fines for drivers illegally parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities from $250 to $350.

It also updates truck size and weight rules last revised in 2018.

“Since that time, changes in state and federal law have created gaps that limit our ability to effectively enforce vehicle size, weight and load restrictions,” Daigle said.

The ordinance also adds a nuisance noise section for excessive engine braking and creates a comprehensive permit system for overweight trucks.

The village will use Oxcart Permit Systems, an online platform used by more than 300 governments across the Midwest to process permits for oversized and overweight vehicles, at no cost to the village.