City Council Regulates Car Booting Fees Following Complaints From Vehicle Owners

On Tuesday, City Council approved an ordinance that would regulate vehicle immobilization services and operators. Car booting fees will be higher than the amount proposed in September. The fee for the average car or SUV will be $75.

Council members had considered $40 for all vehicles.

Last night they approved:

• $75 for vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less
• $150 for vehicles weighing 10,001 to 20,000 pounds
• $150 for semi- trucks weighing 20,000 pounds or greater
• And $450 for tractor trailers.

Council members agreed that higher rates for larger vehicles are necessary to discourage them from parking on local streets.

“They’re commercial entities,” said Councilman Gabriel Sterling. “They have a higher level of responsibility on what to do with their vehicle in our city. And having [I-285] and [Ga. 400] bisect us every which way, we are a nice little parking venue for a lot of these guys.”

Is $75 a fair fee?

Frequent complaints from vehicle owners to police over booting fees led Chief Terry Sult to suggest the ordinance during the Sept. 26th City Council meeting.  Some fees ranged from $500 to $700, he said.

In one instance, a truck was booted at North Springs shopping center, where Big Lots is located, when the driver decided to walk to the adjacent gas station to purchase a drink.

Since September, booting companies have complained to city officials that they need to charge an adequate fee to cover the cost of doing business. . Condo associations hire the company to boot cars of owners who do not pay their dues, or with expired tags.

The new ordinance would require signage be posted on the property informing drivers that cars can be booted. The business that applies the device would be required to have a live person answer their phone 24 hours per day/seven days per week. And a person must be at the scene to remove the device within one hour of being contacted.

Also, the device would have to be removed if the driver returns while the boot operator is there.

Tell us in the comments what you think of the $75 fee.