Bring On Da BOOT!

While in City Hall yesterday, I was told that the city is not currently BOOTing vehicles with outstanding parking tickets because the software system that the Parking Bureau uses for tracking and processing parking tickets has not been working well enough to allow the process of BOOTing to operate properly. Basically, the system is full of glitches and is outdated.

The city recently decided to replace that system and is now signed up with a new, hopefully improved parking software system.  I believe our Common Council approved of this change, but I don't know any of the details regarding the old or new system, their names or how much more it might cost the city, mainly because I have but one brain.  

City Clerk Tracy Delaney told me that the new parking software system will go into effect this Saturday.  If all goes as planned, I was told, the city should be able to resume the BOOTying of vehicles as is stipulated in our city code.  It's straightforward: Three parking tickets of any kind, including meter violations, that go unpaid for 90 days are sufficient to secure a BOOT to a violator auto. No exceptions!  Enforce the law! Don't be shy!  Bring on da BOOT!   Why we need a software system to make this seemingly simple process operate smoothly and effectively is puzzling to me.  You live by the computer, you die by the computer, I guess!

Tracy concluded with this about the impending change: "We are keeping our fingers crossed."

The owner of this pickup truck might be keeping his fingers crossed too, but in the other direction.  At least 3 of the 5 or 6 tickets issued by HPD to the truck for parking in front of the fire hydrant at the intersection of Warren & 2nd are over 90 days past due and there are a few other overdue tickets issued more recently.  If the new parking software system is everything Tracy and others are hoping for, the white pickup from Massachusetts should be one of the first vehicles BOOTed in a city that can finally start to get down to the serious and critical work of stopping scoffers who get away with too much bullshit and keep too much money out of the city's coffers.   Scoffers no good for coffers!