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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Controlling who boots illegally parked cars in private lots around New Rochelle is on the City Council’s agenda next month.
New Rochelle Corporation Counsel Kathleen Gill said booting has been an issue around the city.
“I think currently the practice is loosely administered in New Rochelle, and it’s caused some problems with people in the community, and this is an effort to regulate those activities through a licensing procedure,” she said.
The proposal would require companies engaged in towing or booting vehicles to get city licenses, valid for one year, for a fee of $750. Applicants would have to provide proof of insurance and meet other standards that the police commissioner may require. The police commissioner could reject applicants as unfit and also suspend or revoke licenses. Appeals of those decisions would be heard by the police commissioner.
Companies that tow or boot improperly parked vehicles on private lots would have to have contracts with the lot owners. A vehicle could not be booted if it was occupied by a person or live animal, or if it was parked in a fire lane, in front of a fire hydrant or in a handicapped space, or double-parked on a street. Emergency vehicles and vehicles with "M.D." plates also could not be booted.
New Rochelle City Manager Charles Strome said the new rules would help monitor who puts boots on cars, and who doesn’t.
“I don’t know that if the people who get the licensing will be closer, as much as we are now, but at least this gives us some sort of sentiment in knowing who is able to boot, and that they fill basic requirements prior to going out and doing it,” Strome said during last week’s council meeting.
The council discussed the proposal last week and is to vote on it at a later date.
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