Excerpts from khqu.com:
After the loss of Ross Booker who was killed by a 16-year-old after a Scott’s Law violation in early March, some tow truck drivers are asking if something can be done to make their jobs easier.
Taylor Feldkamp of Feldkamps Towing wants to see if tow companies can use red and blue lights on their trucks, along with the white and amber they already use.
This is something that has been implemented in at least two other states; New Mexico allows blue lights to be used on trucks and Missouri allows blue and red lights if they are rear-facing.
While this will not be appearing in front of the General Assembly immediately, legislators said it is something they want to look into.
#1 by Leo on June 1, 2022 - 2:20 PM
Bill, no Earnies is not allowed to have the red lights they just haven’t been fined for it yet somehow
#2 by Drew Smith on March 21, 2022 - 10:53 AM
I am with many others here that the color of the light wont stop people from striking the operators or their vehicles. Many other states permit red lights (and blue lights) on tow trucks. Texas seems to permit red and blue on construction vehicles. I am not sure why.
If a stationary tow truck is operating on a highway and in traffic then maybe they should have flaggers and set up temporary traffic control to protect everyone including themselves?
Relocators seem to be able to pickup non-crashed cars rapidly and without getting out of their vehicle so maybe small tows should adopt this technique, at least to get the vehicle off the highway.
I am also not sure why many flatbeds or light duty tows need to use their amber lights when towing. If the vehicle is broken up, unstable, parts could break off, etc. then yes. But, when the vehicle just can’t propel itself and there is nothing materially wrong with the body/chassis then why use lights at all?
Excess of anything results in the public’s desensitization to it. Not just lights but think about how many folks react to fire alarms or weather warnings.
#3 by crabbymilton on March 21, 2022 - 5:43 AM
School buses use flashing red lights and those strobe lights and yet people still run into them as well. Tow trucks can get by just fine with those amber lights unless another color is prescribed in a respective area.
#4 by Ed on March 20, 2022 - 10:10 PM
For all these people saying that certain companies have the approval to use sirens and such, that’s a bunch of crap. They may have them but they are in no way legally allowed to use them. Look up the Illinois vehicle code. Nowhere does it say anything about giving permission for tow companies to use emergency lights and sirens.
#5 by Ray Stantz on March 20, 2022 - 7:49 AM
The only way this could work is if there is new regulation regarding tow companies. Some new certification and license requirements for the drivers. And possibly a new license plate for the trucks that have these lights. This will allow law enforcement to verify the truck is approved for the lights and so is the driver. It will help distinguish between other tow trucks and spot imposters. I’m still against it. The more difficult it’s made for tow truck drivers to get these lights, the less risk of abuse there will be.
#6 by Mike C on March 20, 2022 - 7:25 AM
If the red/blue lights add safety, why are people still running into police and fire vehicles? I think one way they could implement red/blue lights on a tow truck is so that they only flash when the tow vehicle is stationary. If the light bar was ordered so that the red/blue lights flash only when the parking brake is set, this might be an option. I don’t think tow vehicles should be permitted to have red/blue lights flashing when the vehicle is in motion as this would confuse other drivers from afar that it’s an emergency vehicle.
#7 by FFPM571 on March 19, 2022 - 5:16 PM
Harry , The only tow trucks authorized in Illinois to use red and or Blue lights are the IDOT Minutemen. They are state owned vehicles.
#8 by ttguy on March 19, 2022 - 4:46 PM
While I may be a bit naive, I believe Red/Blue lights could be implemented to benefit all involved. First I think the distinction could be made that there are certified two truck operators and then there are repo men. Perhaps this could be limited to the type of tow vehicle. F-450/RAM4500 based self-loaders with a single boom (some even without a winch) are generally not your typical accident response vehicles. Accident responses are generally handled by flatbed operators and/or heavier duty recovery vehicles. Rear facing Red/Blue lighting only would be a definite start. Could this be limited to interstate or tollway use only as a trial? Would the tow operators consider the use of a non-tow vehicle with Red/Blue rear lighting as a blocker. Granted this would be an added expense requiring additional personnel, but I believe the tow charges are often based on the equipment and personnel involved to mitigate the situation. Way too many tow truck operators who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Any and all options to increase their on-scene safety should be explored.
#9 by Localguy on March 19, 2022 - 11:50 AM
First of all, remember there’s more to the state than just Chicagoland. Yes, this is a Chicago area site. But a lot of things get posted here that have nothing to do with Chicago specifically. This specific instance happened in the city of Champaign in the middle of the night. I feel tow companies are asking for this bc just amber blends so much with all the construction crap. Which as you all know, nobody pays attention to. I think they are just wanting something to stand out.
#10 by Kevin Griffin on March 19, 2022 - 10:15 AM
I can speak as someone that is a tow op and a FFPM. I feel that if we had just red or blue the the rear it would be okay but no red or blue to the front it’s not needed.
Mabas 21, Some companies have the approval to have sirens on them from highway recovery’s when they are on the shoulder. And some have them on there from pervious owners and just kept them and use them for parades
#11 by MABAS 21 on March 19, 2022 - 8:47 AM
IDOT already has red/clear/blue/amber lights on their wreckers, supervisors and support vehicles. The Tollway Authority has amber/red lights on their HELP trucks and some other vehicles. But unless it is a reputable, registered/certified and trained towing/heavy recovery company that is allowed on the Tollway or certain interstates, I agree with everyone else here that the use of other colors besides amber and clear would be abused by towing companies. Believe it or not, I’ve witnessed a couple towing companies in the southwest suburbs that illegally have sirens installed on them.
#12 by Bill on March 18, 2022 - 11:09 PM
Ernies in vernon hills runs red/green strobes, they run emergency calls for the tollway and have permission to use them
#13 by harry on March 18, 2022 - 10:58 PM
well there is a towing company i have seen online that has full red/blue lights and sirens as for around the chicagoland area many towing co already do this and wi has since i was born wisconsin has some red lights
#14 by Ray Stantz on March 18, 2022 - 9:20 PM
The way a lot of these crooked tow drivers behave, a lot will abuse this. They already use police scanners and fly through red lights to get to accidents and then scam drivers with false info about towing and they’re insurance covering. This would be a big mistake.
#15 by FFPM571 on March 18, 2022 - 9:08 PM
No….big no..
#16 by Paul on March 18, 2022 - 8:52 PM
No Offense. The ONLY tow truck drivers I would allow this on are the IDOT drivers who are on the tollway only. Tow companies esp. in the City of Chicago already race to accidents and drive like they are emergency vehicles. can you imagine these crooked ass tow companies racing around Chicago trying to beat each other on a bill to an accident.
I mean its a shame for the honest guys, but they will abuse this for everyone.
#17 by Trowa on March 18, 2022 - 8:19 PM
No disrespect, but jokes on them. It doesnt matter what color your lights are. The public cant be bothered with safety when they need their Starbucks.