I hadn't listened to Felger and Mazz in a while and tuned in the other day. Man, when did they become so negative? I used to trust Mazz to at least analyze sports with some reason, but all I hear now is "that guy's a jerk" and "that guy wanted out of the game because he's a problem", etc. It's like they already have the answer to every question, and the answer is "he's a crybaby and a jerk".

I would rather listen to somebody like McAdam talk baseball for an hour than these guys for five minutes.

Please.

By Cuzidotrumpet on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 11:18pm.

They're ok compared to me.
Whenever I go to a Super Bowl party I've been invited to, I always decline cuz I do not know what's going on, besides people bashing into each other (and in the case of last year, hoping that the Pats would somehow win in whatever way you win in football...good job Malcolm...).

I didn't even know what a touchdown was until middle school.

Don't judge, please...

98.5's response

By roadman on Thu, 04/23/2015 - 3:49pm.

Just like any other commercial vehicle that gets ticketed - cost of doing business.

Perhaps if the City actually towed these scofflaws instead of placing a boot on the vehicles - which also renders the parking space unusable to anyone else (or perpetuates the hazard to others should the scofflaw be in a place where they shouldn't park at all).

But that's what happens when you have policies that focus on revenue instead of on enforcement.

Booting is step one

By Waquiot on Thu, 04/23/2015 - 3:52pm.

Towing is step two. Or didn't you know that if the bill is not paid within a time period after booting, the trucks come out. At the end of the day, it's a more cost effective system.

If the vehicle owner

By roadman on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 2:57pm.

is responsible for towing costs, then the "cost effectiveness" of towing shouldn't even be an issue. Especially when, as I noted above, a booted car either denies another person use of a legal space or creates an unnecesary hazard by blocking an area where parking is normally prohibited anyway.

And I'm curious. ~~How many tickets does a person need to get before the boot is applied? And~~ Does the City have a policy whereby a person who was previously booted but paid up is automatically towed the second (or third or whatever) time they reach the threshold for booting? I can't find anything on the City's web site or in MGL addressing this.

got my first question answered by looking at MGL - see my "Not a good gambler" post below

A small suggestion

By SwirlyGrrl on Thu, 04/23/2015 - 5:08pm.

Instead of complaining about this here, why don't you call traffic and parking and ask them why they do it this way?

I'm betting that it has something to do with some state or local law that says that they have to do it this way. If it is, then you will need to contact the relevant representative and request that they consider doing it differently. Or accept that you may not be correct about the efficiency of your suggestion.

A small suggestion for you

By anon on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 9:19am.

Please seek professional help for the obvious superiority complex you are suffering from. This complex is clearly demonstrated by your increasing tendencies to belittle people who make reasonable comments that you don't happen to agree with.

Suppose the booted vehicle in question was blocking one our your precious bike lanes? Would you then argue the vehicle shouldn't be towed because it isn't "cost efficient" to properly enforce parking regulations?

I think...

By perruptor on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 12:29pm.

that "superiority complex" is not actually a thing you'll find in any edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, so you won't see any professionals treating it. Fortunately, "strawman" is also not listed there, so you won't be subjected to any treatment for that.

Not a good gambler I take it

By roadman on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 12:40pm.

MGL Chapter 90, Sections 20A and 20A 1/2, state, in part

If any person shall have failed to appear in accordance with five or more said notices, notwithstanding any notification to the registrar, the parking clerk may notify the chief of police or director of traffic or parking of said city or town that the vehicle involved in said multiple violations shall be removed and stored, or otherwise immobilized by a mechanical device, at the expense of the registered owner of said vehicle until such time as the matter has been disposed of in accordance with law.

So towing or 'booting' are appropriate actions to deal with someone who's accumulated multiple parking tickets, but there is no legal requirement that states a city or town has to boot the car and leave it for X number of days before towing.

Did you check what Boston's rules are?

By SwirlyGrrl on Sat, 04/25/2015 - 7:12am.

The MGL does not preclude Boston having a home rule petition, nor does it keep Boston from having either a policy or ordinance specifying booting happening first.

I know from my time in Boston, as a resident and employee, that they generally only tow when it is considered a matter of public safety (e.g. fire lane). Thus they would tow someone from an alleyway in Kenmore if the car was blocking the alley, but ticket someone in a handicap access spot. Blocking private property/driveway required a private towing company be involved (unless it was a fire lane).

Justice would be crushing it

By anon on Thu, 04/23/2015 - 5:03pm.

Justice would be crushing it into a cube on the spot and allowing some lucky scrap metal scavenger to hit the life changing jackpot turning it in at a local scrap heap.

Life imitates art?

By roadman on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 9:28am.

Dear Motorist: Your car is illegally parked at One World Trade Center in the borough of Manhattan. If you do not claim your car within 72 hours, it will be crushed into a small steel cube and dumped into the East River at your expense.

Thank you for your attention - The City of New York

from the Simpsons

Automobiles $0.03-0.06 / lb

By kvn on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 9:47am.

Automobiles $0.03-0.06 / lb Current Prices as of April 24th, 2015
Schnitzer-Everett
69 Rover St , Everett Massachusetts 02149

Why do they even need to boot

By bridge beacon thief on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 2:46am.

Why do they even need to boot? It's just going to show up threefold when they go to renew the registration. After all, mystery tickets, bogus tickets and appealed tickets all have a way of turning up then too.

Why do they need to boot?

By Waquiot on Fri, 04/24/2015 - 11:46am.

Because there are unpaid tickets. Suddenly not being able to use your vehicle, with the possibility of the vehicle being towed and incurring further fees and the longer term possibility of your vehicle being sold at auction, might get those tickets paid quicker than waiting 2 years for the registration to be renewed, assuming the person will actually renew their registration.

It works in Boston. It works in other cities (hence they call it a Denver Boot.) That's why they boot.

More like Boston's Home for Parking Tickets, it looks like

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