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City council hearings began yesterday on Mayor Daley's newly-released 2009 city budget, and our aldermen don't seem to be very happy about many of its proposals. Daley's plan to slash police force hiring was a hotly contested item, as well as the scheme to boot cars after two tickets instead of three - a projected $48 million revenue generator.
A ward-by-ward booting and ticketing breakdown released at the hearing again identified the 41st Ward -- which includes O'Hare -- as the most-booted ward, with 1,434 boots through August 31. Citywide, ticketing has decreased this year, although booting in general is up 11 percent as boot crews are now working with automated license plate readers that speed up the vehicle identification process.
Apparently, you have to be pretty delinquent to even get your car booted, based on this procedural rundown, although 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti complained yesterday: "I have had constituents come to me over and over again saying they paid their ticket and yet, they get a notice from the city. It appears on-line that they paid, but they get follow-up notices. Something's wrong."
Image via ten-nine, although we like this boot picture, too
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The fine and punishment revenue generation system is a losing game. It's raising taxes without the political fallout. The fines and fees are far out of whack with any actual "criminal" behavior. Come on, 50 dollars for an overstay at a quarter an hour meter? Think about that, it's not rational, fair or proportional.
At the heart of this is the simple question, has all this ticketing and towing and booting made parking any easier or the streets less congested? Absolutely not.
Combine all those efforts with the ridiculous permitting system (in which well-to-do homeowners in tony neighborhoods can section off streets at their own little lots, and you see why the trucks say REVENUE on the side.
i have no qualms with it at all. boot them all after one ticket, what do i care?
i got an old civil war boot ... with a foot in it.
"i got an old civil war boot ... with a foot in it."
Its scary that I even know thats a Jerky Boys reference..
I do not have any direct experience with having a car booted. I have had friends who have. Every single one of them was well aware that they were in danger of being booted and had been irresponsible with how and where they park their cars.
The streets need to be swept so pay attention and move your car. When it snows the plows are more important than the fact that you where running late and couldn't find another spot. So what that you forgot to put your registration sticker on the plate? Grow up and pay your ticket or get booted. Owning a car and parking it on a city street is not right.
I agree that booting-as-revenue is not a good model. What happens when people get with the program and ticketing declines? The money that comes in from tickets should not go into the general fund but into some fund for extras (Millennium Park for instance). Kind of like a ticketing TIF. That way the mayor can spend the money but it is not base for the budget.
Can't you just cut the padlock with a grinder if they boot you and you've paid? Also, if it keeps my taxes down, fine BOOT BOOT BOOT what about passenger vehicle on off days like they do in mexico city if your plate ends in an odd number, you don't drive two days a week??
I don't care how many they boot.
I don't have a car!
boots should be the very last thing YO. not the first thing the city does to MAKE MONEY!