The NYPD has introduced a new tool called the “windshield boot,” or colloquially known as the “barnacle,” to tackle parking violations. This device, weighing 17 pounds, adheres to the windshield of a vehicle using powerful suction cups, akin to how a barnacle attaches to a surface. Once attached, it remains in place until the owner pays their outstanding fines.
Unlike traditional steel parking boots that immobilize a vehicle’s wheels, the barnacle obstructs the driver’s view, making it impossible to operate the vehicle safely.
The NYPD has initiated a pilot program, leasing four of these devices at a cost of $250 each per month. These were utilized in Queens to target illegally parked trucks.
Tonight was the NYPD's 1st deployment of a windshield boot aka the "Barnacle Device." It's used to immobilize vehicles violating parking regulations.
— Chief of Transportation (@NYPDTransport) April 5, 2024
This allows us to hold those accountable, reduce parking congestion & address cars that are a nuisance & hazard to the community. pic.twitter.com/XMkBltOvm9
Chief of Transportation Philip Rivera stated that the barnacle device aids in holding violators accountable, reducing parking congestion, and addressing vehicles that pose a nuisance or hazard to the community.
The barnacle features a polycarbonate body and can only be removed with a specific code provided once fines are paid. Attempting to drive with the device attached triggers a loud alarm, and the vehicle can be tracked via GPS. Additionally, drivers must pay a $200 deposit for the device, refundable upon return.
The company behind the barnacle device, Barnacle Parking, highlights its usage in other cities like Greeley, Colorado, and Charleston, South Carolina, as well as by parking companies and universities.
