Des Plaines police will start using the Denver Boot this month to fight traffic-ticket scofflaws.
Officials last week sent out warning notices to 357 residents who have tickets totaling more than $250, said Des Plaines Police Capt. Ronald Diehl. Those people will have 21 days from the mailing date to dispute the citations and request a court date or their vehicles will become eligible to be immobilized with the Denver Boots, he said.
“One person who already received his notice came in and paid his tickets,” Diehl said. “We’ve put some teeth into the penalty.”
Police are hoping the Boot will bring in thousands of dollars to city coffers, they said.
The opportunity certainly seems to be present, Diehl said. About 120 residents have been written tickets with fines totaling more than $500, he said.
“In the past, I’ve seen people with a glove compartment full of tickets just laughing about it,” Diehl said.