Nassau boot-and-tow program set to begin
Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano announced the beginning of the county's Boot and Tow program in Hempstead. A boot placed on a vehicle is seen above. (March 19, 2012) Credit: Howard Schnapp
A boot-and-tow program for parking and red light camera scofflaws in Nassau County will begin next Monday, County Executive Edward Mangano announced Monday.
"We've provided more than enough time for scofflaws to come forward and pay their fines . . . " Mangano said.
"If you have three or more outstanding tickets, I urge you to pay up or see your vehicle get booted and possibly towed."
Mangano made the announcement at the county Traffic and Parking Violations agency in Hempstead Village.
He and other administration officials displayed a vehicle with license plate-reading equipment and dozens of yellow boot locks for wheels.
In May, the administration first offered an amnesty period that let scofflaws pay their original fines without additional penalties. Officials said about 360,000 tickets worth more than $49 million were outstanding.
But Mangano now says that tickets more than 2 years old may not be collectible.
Currently, there are 7,900 vehicles with 45,099 parking tickets valued at $8.3 million, and 8,004 red-light camera scofflaws owing $2.8 million, Mangano said.
Cory Marchasin, president of the New Jersey-based company PayLock that will operate the boot-and-tow program for Nassau, said motorists will have to pay all fines and penalties to the county, plus $166 to PayLock to remove the boot.
When a car is legally parked on a public street or parking lot, payment must be made within 48 hours of the booting, or towing will occur, officials said.
If the vehicle illegally parked, it could be towed immediately -- at an additional cost of $125 for towing plus $20 a day for storage.
Credit card payments can be made by telephone for a small fee, and after payment, PayLock will provide a code to unhook the boot and an address for dropping off the device.
NASSAU TRAFFIC TICKET SCOFFLAWS
Parking tickets: 7,900 vehicles, $8.3 million owed
Red-light camera tickets: 8,004 violators, $2.8M owed
How the boot-and-tow program works
First, a roving truck equipped with special camera scans license plates of parked cars. Plates are matched against database of parking and red-light scofflaws.
If there's a match and the car is legally parked, the vehicle will be booted. If illegally parked, car could be towed immediately.
If the vehicle is booted, its owner can pay off tickets and fines with a credit card by phone. Owner then receives code to unhook boot.
