Politics & Government

Niles Will Tow Vehicles Of People Who Owe Village $1,000 Or More

Village board passed ordinance because collecting money is proving difficult in some cases.

The village of Niles is having trouble getting some residents to pay fees and fines, and passed an ordinance at its May 24 meeting to immobilize or tow the vehicles of those who owe $1,000 or more.

Niles Police Chief Dean Strzelecki, who proposed the ordinance, said delinquent residents owe the village $1 million. The debt has accumulated over the past 10 years.

Village Manager George Van Geem told TribLocal most residents get hit with large fees because of water bills and property maintenance fines and fees. 

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Other officials said that when homes are foreclosed or abandoned, the village cuts the lawns are performs basic maintenance, but that it's hard to collect for the cost of such work. 

Trustee Andrew Przybylo said he didn't see the relationship between a resident's home and the vehicle which would be immobilized under the ordinance. He voted against the measure, but the five other trustees voted for it.

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"You're taking a citizen's car for fines unrelated to that car. Why don't you put a lien on the house?" he asked. "That would be more in keeping with the violation." 


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