23-Jan-20 – After being shut down more than a year ago, Lincoln Towing Service is back in business.

Circuit Court Associate Judge Neil Cohen has ruled the Illinois Commerce Commission “violated fundamental fairness and due process rights” by failing to inform Lincoln Towing Service during an ICC hearing that its license was at stake.

The ICC voted in September 2018 to pull Lincoln Towing’s license for failing to operate “with integrity and honesty.” ICC agents reportedly found more than 800 violation complaints over roughly the previous year. Lincoln Towing immediately filed for a temporary restraining order to continue operating while they appealed the ICC ruling. The company also had to post a $100,000 bond and file daily towing reports with the Illinois Attorney General’s office during the appeal process.

For a time, it looked like Lincoln Towing was rebranding when a “Protective Parking” sign popped up on the company’s building at 4882 North Clark Street. But Lincoln Towing attorney Allen Perl said that was the company’s doing business as name and the actual name of the business, Lincoln Towing Service, remains the same.

During its more than 50 years on the street as perhaps Andersonville’s most famous – and notorious – local business, Lincoln Towing came under frequent fire for its alleged improper towing of cars and trucks. The business acquired a measure of immortality in 1973 with folk singer Steve Goodman’s ballad, Pirates of Lincoln Park.

“The case is over now,” said Perl (left). “We prevailed and we’re happy the judge made the correct ruling. All we want to do is continue to relocate vehicles within the laws of the Illinois Commerce Commission.” The decision can still be appealed by the ICC.

“We are disappointed [with the latest ruling] and are exploring all our options with our legal counsel, the Attorney General’s office representing us in this case,” said ICC spokesperson Victoria Crawford.