Moncton council wants right to license booting companies

Moncton council islooking for ways to deal with the concern over private parking lots putting boots on car tires as the municipalpoliticians wait for legal reforms from the provincial government.

The city has received many complaints over the years about private parking lots that usethe wheel-clamping device to immobilize vehicles.

Mayor Dawn Arnold identifiedbooting as one of her top priorities when she was first elected in May.

On Monday night, the city appointed councillors Greg Turner and Bryan Butler to a special committee to address the so-called "booting issue."

Council passed a separate motion to write a formal letter to send to other cities in the province seeking support for municipalities to be able to license booting companies.

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Turner said the city can't legally do anything to stop private property owners from using booting companies, so the committee's first step will be educating the public about where they can legally park.

"We've already had an informal meeting where we see education as a big part of this," Turner said.

Until the provincial government updates the Municipalities Act, Turner said the city cannot do anything to stop the parking enforcement practice.

"It's out of our hands right now but we can work together to find a solution with the provincial authorities."

A number of downtown parking lot owners employ companies to monitor their lots, and place a device called a boot on any car illegally parked.

Drivers have to pay the fine, which is normally about$100 before the booting company will remove the device.

Clearing up parking rules

Turner said he and Butler will invite members of Downtown Moncton, as well as property owners who employ booting companies to discuss what can be done to keep people from parking illegally on their property.

At the same time, they will look at not leaving visitors and residents angered over what some have called unclear parking rules that can result in an inconvenience and a steep fine.

But Coun. Shawn Crossman warned council that downtown landowners need to have their rights protected as well.

Private property owners hire booting companies to property their property from unauthorized parking, he said.

Crossman suggested putting sandwich boards next to any lot that uses the boot.

"Therefore, when you're driving in, you are automatically going to see that you're on private land, versus our current signing system, which is on a post somewhere within that parking area and seems to go unnoticed by many citizens," he said.

Turner said he hopes an awareness campaign aimed at getting drivers parking in designated spots can fix the problem, at least until the province makes changes to the Municipalities Act.

"As it stands today and from our understanding it's very antiquated and the province is working on it and rapidly," he said.

"We're hopeful that we will be able to make decisions on our own that affect our community and our citizens."

Turner said the committee will present its findings to Moncton council by Oct. 31.