AUTOMATIC BOOTING POLICY CEASES IN HOBOKEN

Assemblyman Carmelo G. Garcia (D-Hudson) calls the change in Hoboken’s booting policy a good first step.  Instead of immediately booting a vehicle parked illegally, the Hoboken Parking Utility is giving drivers a ticket and a written notice stating they have 72 hours to move their car or face booting or towing.  While this doesn’t eliminate the use of wheel clamps or boots, it does give the motorist more time to fix the problem. “An automatic boot is not only unfair it can leave a motorists stranded and gives them no time to correct the problem,” said Garcia.  “This is a more humane way of dealing with motorists who park illegally, at least temporarily while my legislation addressing this issue works its way through the legislature.”

Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Garcia, Declan O’Scanlon Jr. (R- Red Bank), and Michael Patrick Carroll (R- Morris Plains) prohibits municipalities from implementing ordinances that permit the booting of vehicles with no outstanding warrants.  This bill will clear up any grey area in the current state statute.  “For far too long motorists, even those with no outstanding warrants against their vehicle, were getting booted due to Hoboken’s draconian policy,” said Garcia.  “This practice appears to be an attempt to fill city coffers.  And booting a car doesn’t open up a space for another vehicle.  This legislation will protect drivers and put a roadblock in the way of any town that attempts to authorize overly aggressive booting policies.”