“Move over and hold my beer, boot”: if your motor vehicle is illegally parked, beware of…The Barnacle, which is being used in such cities as New York and is the latest weapon in the war on vehicles which are parked illegally.
Illegally Parked? Beware of…The Barnacle.
According to the official Internet web site of The Barnacle, the device operates as follows:
- DEPLOYMENT: A parking enforcer activates the Barnacle, inputs vehicle information, and places the Barnacle on the vehicle windshield. Commercial-grade suction cups latch onto the glass with 1,000 pounds of force, rendering forcible removal next to impossible.
- MOTORIST RELEASE: The motorist calls the phone number or visits the website displayed on The Barnacle, pays their fine — if applicable — and are given a release code.
- RETURN TO THE BARNACLE DROP BOX: The motorist returns the lightweight Barnacle to a nearby drop box. If applicable, the refundable deposit held on the credit card of the driver is voided. Most drop boxes are on-site or walking distance from where Barnacles are deployed.
- ONGOING MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT: Via the free companion Enforcer mobile software application program, enforcers can set the fines, enter vehicle and situational information, and see status of deployed, released, and returned Barnacles.
Driving a vehicle with The Barnacle attached to the windshield is virtually impossible to do, as the device covers most of the line of sight through the windshield. Besides, removing the device is considered tampering with it and is illegal.
The fines can be rather steep: if The Barnacle is applied to the windshield of your vehicle in the city of New York, you must pay $185.00 at the tow pound within two hours of the boot time listed — otherwise, your vehicle will be towed for an additional fee of $185.00.
Traffic enforcement within the city of New York has always been quite serious. They mean business and do not fool around.
The following note was pasted to the window on the driver’s side of the offending motor vehicle:
The Brooklyn Tow Pound accepts credit cards; so you can at least take solace that you can earn miles, points, or a cash rebate for using your credit card — but you must head over to Brooklyn in order to pay your fine, as you cannot pay it via any form of electronic means. Fortunately, the York Street subway station is only four blocks away from the facility; so you can take the F train there to the first stop in Brooklyn across the East River.
If you are wondering whether the city of New York still uses what are known as “boots”, fear not: I saw the following on the same day…
…and I actually saw the motorist in person incredulously disbelieving what he saw as he was using his mobile telephone. He was definitely not having a good day by any means.
Final Boarding Call
The first time I saw The Barnacle was during my recent trip to New York. I do not ever want to experience dealing with one myself.
When you travel to a city with which you are unfamiliar and drive a motor vehicle in it, paying attention to the laws and rules is paramount in ensuring that you are not legally penalized — especially when you think you were lucky in finding a parking spot in which you are ultimately not allowed to park, as I found out with a rental car in New Orleans…
…and you especially do not want to park illegally in a rental car, for if they find out about it, they might charge you an extra fee.
If you have not yet seen The Barnacle in person, it may be coming to a city near you…
Photograph ©2025 by Brian Cohen.
