The City of Syracuse is working on legislation that would prohibit the booting of unauthorized vehicles on private property. Syracuse Police First Deputy Chief Joe Cecile says the problem seems to have reached a boiling point in the past couple months.
"We became aware of it because we were called to situations where booting has occurred by private citizens. We were called there because there were verbal altercations."
…and a fear that it could escalate.
"I've been on the job for 30 years, we will eventually have a physical altercation. The verbal altercations will become physical if this practice continues. Folks get very frustrated when their cars get ticketed, booted, and towed...very frustrated, and you will eventually have a physical altercation, people getting hurt."
Cecile says public safety is one of the reasons behind the proposed ordinance.
"The second reason is there's no regulation with private citizens. They can charge whatever they want. It becomes very unfair, arbitrary. You could come back to your car, they'd charge 100 bucks, the next person $250."
But Cecile says that doesn’t leave parking lot owners without a way to discourage unauthorized parking.
"They can still tow, and it's worked for countless years. We have very few issues with that because it's completely different. You have a vehicle that's towed and it goes to a lot. There's standards for how much it will cost to get it back out. With the booting, you come back to your car, and it has a boot on it. You're going to be dealing with the individual who actually booted it."
…which the ordinance is designed to prevent. Cecile says much of the private booting seems to be happening in a lot on Westcott Street.
"I know city representatives have spoken with business owners up there to get their take on it, and found many wanted this ordinance as well because they didn't feel that the booting was fair to the folks that were patronizing those business areas."
In a statement, Mayor Stephanie Miner says while drivers should be careful not to park in private lots, it's unfair for businesses to boot their cars, trapping drivers while they're forced to wait and pay hefty fees. Violators of the proposed ordinance face hefty penalties of their own...a $500 fine or 60 days in prison. Common councilors could vote on the measure later this month.
