It might be one of the most disheartening experiences in Washington. You leave your house one day, walk out to your car, and you see a big piece of paper on the windshield. “Please tell me the clubs have just gotten more aggressive with their advertising,” you think to yourself, but no, it says, “DO NOT MOVE THIS CAR.” You rush to the street side of your vehicle only to find 40 pounds of orange disgrace strapped to the front wheel: you’ve received the boot.
If you’ve never been booted, you’re quickly becoming the minority. An article in today’s Washington Times says that D.C. DOT Department of Public Works (DPW) is the meanest, orneriest, most dastardly boot-clamper in the land. In 2006, booting brought $3.3 million into the D.C. treasury. So efficient is our hometown boot team that we outstrip not only local neighbors like Arlington, but we tear up cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco as well. According to the article, one crew in Baltimore was posting a respectable seven boots a day, but a crew in D.C. dominated with 18 boots in the same time. Ha! Eat that, Charm City! I think we’ve found our new slogan: Washington, D.C.: 157% More Boot than Baltimore!
Washington must be chock-a-block with ticket scofflaws if our booters can find so many targets. According to the article, drivers with three outstanding tickets are eligible for the boot, but the Mayor says it’s two or more. I know from experience that it can be just one…aaaand maybe an ignored inspection requirement. Whatever it takes, be advised that you don’t want the boot at all. Not only does it mean you have to pay all your overdue tickets (and overdue fees) and a $50 boot fee, but it means you have to go down to the traffic adjudication building on 1st and K, NE 3rd and C, NW to stand in the shame line for everyone to see. It’s a little like paying $300 to see some you know at the strip club; painful and awkward at the same time.
There are many of you out there who have experience with the boot, so out with it. Any good stories from your personal bootification saga? Any tips to avoid the boot or get out of it relatively painlessly? Let us know in the comments.
Photo from DCist flickr pool contributor Terecico.
