Cap on wheel booting proposed in Hapeville

Attempting to lessen the grip a parking enforcement company has on its community, the Hapeville City Council has proposed a $75 fee limit for people who have their vehicles immobilized by wheel boots -- nearly one third of what the company has charged some motorists.

On Tuesday night, the council, on the advice of City Attorney Paul Koster, said it is considering changing a local ordinance to limit what parking offenders have to pay to get their vehicles unlocked and to allow them to use credit cards to settle their fines.

“I just want this to be clear," Mayor Alan Hallman said. "We got thrown into this situation because of the randomness of charges."

The city received numerous complaints after drivers had their vehicles booted and were asked to pay from $100 to $200, with the latter fee required when a vehicle carried a magnetic emblem signifying it for commercial use. People also complained that the enforcement company accepted only cash payments.

The issue came to light last month after vehicles were booted in a parking lot on Virginia Avenue that serves Motel 6 and Ruby Tuesday's restaurant. The lot is located next to Spondivitis, a popular seafood restaurant that draws large crowds on weekends and doesn't have enough parking for its customers, forcing diners to leave their vehicles elsewhere.

Steven Harper, who operates Georgia Parking Enforcement, told the council he would have a credit-card machine in operation soon, but he questioned the proposed maximum fee for passenger vehicles.

“I’m not sure I can operate the business with the fee at $75,” Harper said.

The ordinance would require more signage to alert people of the possible booting, and resident Charlotte Rentz asked the council to require these new signs to contain pertinent information.

“I’d like to see the phone number of the operator on the sign also,” Rentz said.

Hallman said the city would discuss the booting issue again at its March 15 meeting and wanted the situation resolved quickly. He cautioned the ordinance was subject to major revisions at the next meeting, which would mean another first reading.

“I’d like to see this dragon slayed,” the mayor said.

However, some on the council questioned whether the issue would ever be settled.