The motivation behind the change, according to Bradley, is that the method of enforcement is "a little more friendly," both for employees and for the parking office. Employees whose cars have been towed often are anxious that their cars have been stolen or that they have been damaged in the towing process, said Bradley, and the move to booting will lessen that anxiety. Rather than having to find a ride to the towing company, paying the fee and retrieving their car, employees now will have to come to the parking office, pay $25 to get the boot removed and pay all outstanding tickets.
"We will continue to tow in areas such as fire lanes, handicapped spaces and areas that may cause a jeapordy to a person or a vehicle," said Bradley.
The Department of Community Services is exploring several payment options for employees with outstanding tickets. Currently, employees have the choices of cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or EmoryCard and the office is "trying to come up with some other payment plans as well," said Bradley.