Non-city crews that clamp the Denver boot on cars parked “illegally” in private lots will be given the boot themselves if Mayor Richard Daley and an angry Chicago alderman have their way.
Responding to a new–and greatly detested–practice that officials said has sparked numerous complaints, Daley and Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th) introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would prohibit any individual or private company from booting cars.
The city itself has used the Denver boot with great success, collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars from unhappy scofflaws who have been forced to pay their overdue parking fines to get the immobilizing device removed from their autos.
But the boot now has proved to be a rarity–a government innovation so successful it has been adopted by the private sector.
Under traditional practice in Chicago, towing is the accepted means of dealing with unauthorized cars that are left on private property.
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But a New York firm, identified by city officials as Guardian Associates, recently began slapping the boot on such autos.
Since the company began operating two months ago in about half a dozen private lots on the Near Northwest Side, City Hall has gotten “tons and tons of complaints,” said Hugh Murphy, the city’s revenue director.
And there also has been a good bit of confusion, he said, since Chicagoans are accustomed to boot use exclusively by city crews on official business.
At least one booting company employee, allegedly dressed in a uniform resembling the one worn by Chicago police, has been arrested and charged with impersonating a city official.
But city lawyers have concluded that the practice of booting on private property is not illegal, Murphy said.
Thus the proposed ordinance.
Officials pointed out that booting would seem to defeat the purpose accomplished by towing: getting cars out of private lots.
On the other hand, a boot is much cheaper to buy and operate than a tow truck, and the payoff from a beleaguered “bootee” can be steep.
Schulter said that the booting “pirates” charge as much as $125 to remove the devices.
Attempts to reach Guardian officials for comment were unsuccessful.
On another matter, Schulter introduced a measure that would increase fines sharply for stealing life preservers on city bridges. The measure follows a tragedy in May in which a Chicago firefighter and two other men drowned in the Little Calumet River near a bridge where the city-owned preserver had been stolen.
Under the alderman’s proposal, the fine for theft would increase from the current range of $5 to $50 to $200 to $500.
In other action:
– Daley proposed a measure designed to refine a long-standing ordinance that places a “hold” on city license renewals to businesses or individuals who owe the city money. Among other provisions, the definition of debt would be expanded to include parking fines.
– Ald. Jesse Granato (1st) introduced an ordinance that would allow police to impound any vehicle carrying illegal fireworks. The measure is aimed at gang members who throw the explosives from cars.
– Two aldermen, Edward Burke (14th) and Bernard Stone (50th), proposed an ordinance that would require city licensing of home inspection companies. The measure seeks to protect homeowners from unscrupulous operators.
– A proposed franchise agreement that would permit Ameritech New Media Inc. to operate in a large area of the South Side was kept on hold by black aldermen who are seeking greater minority participation. The aldermen are awaiting a ruling by the city’s Law Department on whether they can negotiate directly with the company to hammer out a satisfactory agreement.