Motorists who routinely ignore parking tickets issued by La Grange police likely will soon find something else attached to their vehicles—a boot that makes driving away impossible.
Under an ordinance amended Monday night by La Grange trustees, motorists with five or more unpaid parking tickets will have their names and vehicle license plates added to a list provided to officers patrolling the village's streets and parking lots. When a vehicle on the list is encountered by an officer, on goes a boot.
The boot will be removed only after the vehicle's owner has paid a $60 fine, along with all outstanding tickets. If the matter is not settled within 48 hours, the vehicle will be towed and impounded, incurring additional costs to the owner.
La Grange Police Chief Michael Holub said the law is not targeted at motorists who forget to pay a ticket or two, but at scofflaws who regularly ignore village parking restrictions and the tickets that result.
There are "about half a dozen" vehicles on the list at this time, Holub said.
Every motorist on the list will be mailed a warning notice before the law is enforced, and have five days to pay up or request a hearing.
Before the ordinance was amended, police first had to obtain a court judgment before a vehicle could be booted.
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