You found the perfect parking spot after circling the block, but when you complete your errand, you see a big, bright yellow boot on your car’s tire. You’re stuck, so now what? Can you take it off yourself, or should you have your car towed?
There is a reason your car got the boot – you parked illegally. But, what are your options to get the wheel block off so you can get on your way?
What is a car boot?
Car boots are vehicle immobilization devices consisting of heavy-duty steel. They’re usually coated in rubber or plastic and are intended to remain in place until a key or code is used to unlock them. When the tire boot is placed on the vehicle, it immobilizes the car or truck so that it cannot be moved until the boot is removed.
It prevents the driver from leaving and indicates that they parked illegally. They’re often used to deter people from parking in private lots or as a warning for people who owe outstanding parking fines to a Florida municipality.
What are the risks of a DIY car boot removal?
Vehicle damage
The risk most people are concerned about is damaging the vehicle. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could puncture or tear your tire or bend your wheel. Both of these are pricey repairs. Depending on where the boot is and how it’s attached, you may need specialized tools to get it off. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up spinning the boot and scraping paint off the body of your car, another pricey fix.
Legal consequences
The other risk is legal. Depending on who put the boot on your car, you could end up with hundreds of dollars in parking fines or jail time.
Non-public parking lot owners may use a private boot service to deter people from parking in a tagged or private area. If you want the boot off, you may have to call the security company that placed it there and pay to remove it. Florida property owners are within their rights to have boots placed on vehicles that aren’t permitted to park in a private area, like an apartment complex or a non-customer facing the business.
However, if the boot was put on your car by a Florida police department, your troubles may go beyond a large removal fee. A car boot is typically a last resort by many municipalities to force people to pay outstanding parking tickets and fees.
Reasons you should avoid removing a car boot yourself
The first reason to avoid DIY car boot removal is to avoid damaging your vehicle. Some people may deflate the tire to remove the boot, but it can be tricky if you’ve never done this before.
The self-releasing boots are designed for easy removal once the fee is paid, so it may cost less to pay the fee than to cause any damage you do to your car’s body, tire, or wheel. Florida sets forth a maximum fee for booting a car on private property of $65; the average price to replace a tire if you damage one trying to get the boot off is about $200.
The second is legal – if a police department booted your vehicle for unpaid parking tickets, removing the boot could earn you another fine or a misdemeanor charge. Some jurisdictions may issue a bench warrant for your arrest if you have too many outstanding parking tickets and remove the boot yourself instead of contacting the municipality.
What are my options to have a car boot taken off?
Your options depend on who installed the boot. Some boots are locked in place and require the security service or police department to manually remove the boot. Others are self-removing, with a code you can enter after you’ve paid the fine to resolve your tickets or have the boot taken off.
In some cases, a car boot may be placed on your car by a scammer, someone who puts boots on legally parked cars and collects fake fines from people to have the boot removed.
In any case, start with a call to your local police department before taking steps toward DIY car boot removal. They can tell you whether the boot is legitimate and direct you to the appropriate place to pay outstanding parking tickets or otherwise resolve your situation.
Protect your property and your rights with skilled legal advice
Was your car illegally booted? Do you have property damage from an illegal boot or a boot scam? We can help. Contact one of our Florida car accident lawyers today at (561) 655-1990 to learn about your legal options.
