Why are cars booted?

[S]

This is completely random, but does anyone understand the logic behind municipalities booting cars instead of towing them? It's so frustrating because of the 10 metered spots near where I work (which required coming in around 7:30 am to snag), two are occupied by booted cars!

How is this in the city's best interest?

 

[JPatrick]

This is completely random, but does anyone understand the logic behind municipalities booting cars instead of towing them? It's so frustrating because of the 10 metered spots near where I work (which required coming in around 7:30 am to snag), two are occupied by booted cars!

How is this in the city's best interest?

Don't know your cities policy.
Some cities boot until they can get a wrecker there. Keeps the criminal locked up.
Some use the boot as a operational cost saver as most will pay up soon to free their wheels. These cities will tow after X number of hours/days of nonretreival.
Some cities have their heads where the sun don't shine

 

[mathjak107]

well normally a tow driver has to tow the car, go to the local precinct and file paperwork then tow the card to a storage yard. all very time consuming. many more cars can be dealt with by just quickly booting and moving on to the next vehicle.

 

[youbet]

In NY, the fees for removing boots from cars are an income line in Hilary's election campaign budget.

Here in Chicago, boot removal fees pay for "gee, we might host the olympics!" celebrations.

Are you anti-patriotic or something?

 

[HFWR]

This is completely random, but does anyone understand the logic behind municipalities booting cars instead of towing them?

Because the boot manufacturers' lobbyists give higher kickbacks are more powerful than the towing companies' lobbyists?

 

[TromboneAl]

I'm guessing that it's just a lot cheaper and simpler for the city than towing.

Boot: Meter maid applies boot. Car takes up space, causing others to park illegally and get the boot, repeat.

Tow: Contact towing guy, pay his wages, health insurance, truck insurance, liability insurance. Have car towed to storage location, etc.

 

[Joss]

The towing and storage are paid by the car owner, before they can get their car back. This is normally based on agreements with the commercial towing services. If the car becomes abandon, the towing company sells the car, keeps the proceeds and writes off the difference (if any).

This is cost free to the cities unless they are stupid.... not that many aren't.

The boot is a deterent display of enforcement, while simply towing is not.

Smartest way to go is to use the boot to lock the violater in place. Then tow the car the next day. As with all government, there is usually a wide gulf petween the plan and what really happens.

 

[UncleHoney]

Around here it's typical to boot a car if there are numerous oustanding violations that haven't been paid.

UH