Last Updated on October 24, 2017 by Lawrence Berezin
A Metal boot is made for collecting
Mayor Bloomberg is planning to lead the charge against motorists who owe New York City $350 or more in parking ticket judgments. The Daily News reported that NYC added another weapon of mass collection to its arsenal of revenue raising tools, a boot.
The mayor’s office confirmed approval of a contract with PayLock, the New Jersey firm that landed the five-year $70 million no-bid deal to operate the new “booting” system.
City officials are not revealing the start date for the “boot” program, but it is imminent, or sooner.
“Das Boot” will be raining revenue for NYC
NYC DOF representatives claim the “boot” is a more civilized way (than towing) to collect money from parking ticket scofflaws.
“A motorist who owes $350 in parking tickets, such as, will have to pay an additional $180 for Paylock’s fee, $70 for a marshal’s “execution fee,” plus a “poundage fee” of 5% of the entire bill.
In this case, that would be another $30. And, if the driver pays by credit card, he or she will be charged a small additional “convenience fee.”
Drivers would be forced to shell out nearly $300 on top of the original $350 in tickets. That’s virtually the same amount as under the current towing system — even though the city will be towing far fewer cars.
If the motorist doesn’t pay within two days, however, the booted car will then be towed, and the owner will be charged a $180 fee times two. Ca-ching, Ca-ching
The motorist who pays on time must also return PayLock’s boot to a city payment center within 24 hours or face additional penalties of $25 per day — up to a maximum of $500, the documents show.”
Commentary
It may be a good idea to refresh our collective recollections of the weapons of mass collection available to NYC in its war against parking ticket scofflaws, and the dollar amounts that can trigger an attack.
Is all fair in love and war against scofflaws? Would you prefer a boot to a tow?
Add your first comment to this post