City OKs Giving the ‘Boot’ to Scofflaws’s Cars

A campaign to crack down on parking ticket scofflaws that includes buying 200 “Denver boots” and using them to immobilize vehicles until the owners settle outstanding fines, was approved unanimously and without discussion on Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council.

The council’s action, which was forwarded to Mayor Tom Bradley for his expected approval, calls for setting up a $700,000-a-year program in which five two-officer teams will be authorized to attach the boot to any vehicle listed as having received at least five unpaid parking tickets. A vehicle could get the boot even if it happened to be legally parked at the time.

Department of Transportation officials estimate that the program will increase parking ticket revenue by $1.75 million a year.

The Denver boot, named for the city in which it was first used, is a metal device that is clamped and locked onto a wheel, immobilizing the vehicle.

In addition to approving the purchase of 200 boots at $350 each, the City Council also directed that an ordinance be drafted authorizing a fee of $35, plus the amount owed on overdue tickets, be paid by owners of vehicles to which the boot is attached.