L.L. 1995/024
Enactment date: 4/10/1995
Int. No. 88-A
By Council Members Leffler, Dear, Eisland and Warden; also Council Members Stabile, Albanese, Weiner, Malave-Dilan, McCaffrey and Marshall
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the licensing of booting companies
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. It is hereby found and declared that the booting of motor vehicles by private persons should be regulated in order to alleviate some of the problems motorists have experienced and to give motorists a forum in which to have their complaints heard and addressed. In 1994, the Department of Consumer Affairs received complaints from consumers who maintained that their vehicles had been legally parked when the boots were applied, that no signs had been posted indicating that vehicles would be booted if they were improperly parked or that the booting personnel were abusive and unresponsive. By far, the largest portion of these complaints concerned the booting of motor vehicles on private parking lots serving stores and other business establishments where motorists were forced not only to pay high booting charges to have their vehicles released, but also to pay charges for both the booting and the subsequent towing of their vehicles. Since booting is currently an unlicensed activity, the Department of Consumer Affairs has been unable to mediate any of these consumer complaints and to award restitution to consumers where appropriate. This local law would authorize the Department of Consumer Affairs to license private persons who boot motor vehicles and thereby bear and respond to complaints and impose sanctions for any violation of this law. It would also establish certain standards that would govern booting activities, thereby helping to ensure that licensed companies do not wrongfully boot motor vehicles or engage in booting in such a manner as to endanger the public safety. The Council further finds that the licensing of booting companies will protect the public from undue inconvenience and potential damage to vehicles.
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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]
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§ 5. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment into law.