Moncton hopes to give parking boot complaints the boot

The City of Moncton has adopted a new protocol regarding the booting of vehicles due to ongoing complaints from local motorists.

MonctonMayor George LeBlanc says he continues to receive complaints from people who feel "victimized" by the 14 private parking lots in the downtown area thatuse a metal clamp, called a boot,to immobilize unauthorized vehicles, then charge about $100 to have the device removed.

"I understand the concerns of some of our property owners, but frankly this is a continuing frustration for me," said LeBlanc. "We do not have legal authority to do something more about this."

The city can't make booting illegal, socouncil voted Monday night to refer any public complaints to the parking services department, which will investigate whether the property owner has a no-parking sign in place.

If a sign is not visible, the city will offer to install one.If the property owner agrees in writing, the city will cover the cost.

If the property owner doesn't agree, and there are more complaints, the city will try again to get permission.

If that fails, a sign will be installed near the property in question, on a right-of-way, where possible, said LeBlanc.

Coun. Charles Leger says people should report lots without signage.

"So if there are people out there who've been booted wecertainly would like to make sure that they're on record in terms of where these parking lots are, I'd encourage you, I'll say, maybe to call the clerk's office and we start a list of names, for example."

The business group Downtown Monctonannounced earlier this year it plannedto spend $5,000 to design larger, bright, simpler no parking signs and offer to install them, free of charge, at the 14 private parking lots that boot, as well as eight other parking lots that tow unauthorized vehicles.