The Boot Business

By Amy Mikel in News on Oct 21, 2008 5:05PM

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