City to Regulate Booting Companies

A new ordinance adopted by city officials Aug. 16 will place regulations on companies that “boot” vehicles in private parking lots in Crystal Lake. 

The boot, a lockable clamp placed on the wheel of a car so it can’t be driven, has become a popular alternative to towing cars illegally parked due to the relative ease and cost effectiveness of the practice by immobilization companies. 

The new ordinance will allow to regulate these companies and collect an annual permit fee. 

The ordinance was recommended by the Crystal Lake Police Department, which had received complaints about some booting companies’ practices. 

Police were told some companies were reportedly demanding cash-only payments or were not responding to calls for information regarding the immobilization, said . 

“That is something that is a little bit suspect,” he said. 

The ordinance specifies removing a boot from a vehicle may not exceed $100 and accept cash, credit or debit card. 

Further, booting companies are to install no less than two clearly visible warning signs in parking areas; place easily removable window notices on booted vehicles with contact information, cost for boot removal, acceptable forms of payment and time and date, and reason for the immobilization. 

Companies must remove the boot within 60 minutes after a request to do so, unless in the process of removing a boot device elsewhere. 

They must provide information to police within 15 minutes after installing a boot including time and date, the parking lot location, and the description of the vehicle and license plate number. 

Companies will now be licensed and pay a $100 licensing fee and annual renewal fee. 

Linder said the fees will cover the administrative costs of the department to manage the supervision of the companies. 

“It’s not designed to be a money-maker,” he said.