To Boot......or Not!!

[Mulligan_atl]

I can't believe a known police vehicle was booted. Not knowing what the vehicle is doing there, how can you boot it knowing that it may have to respond to a call only to find out the backup never got there because some asshat booted the car?

[grumpyirishman]

Correct....security didn't want to mess with it, the citizen was screaming to move it. We placated him by booting it. Never did find out who it was, they went in at 0200 and paid to get the boot off. We figure he was at one of the local bars.

I can't believe that they charged him to remove the boot....oh well..

[jchughes05]

At a bar, in a police vehicle?? Not good.

[phillyrube]

phillyrube,
I see that you are in Virginia. VA Code 46.2-1231 regulates the towing from private property. Here is the link.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...+cod+46.2-1231

It allows a property owner or his agent to have a trespassing vehicle towed or booted....

BUT

The last paragraph states..
"This section shall not apply to police, fire, or public health vehicles or where a vehicle, because of a wreck or other emergency, is parked or left temporarily on the property of another."

Correct....security didn't want to mess with it, the citizen was screaming to move it. We placated him by booting it. Never did find out who it was, they went in at 0200 and paid to get the boot off. We figure he was at one of the local bars.

[JSD73]

Given the above, IF, that includes unmarked vehicles to be an authorized emergency vehicle, then I'd say that the call wasn't your problem to begin with. It's on private property, it's not your concern and it's not your call. If the property owner/management wants it removed, it's on their dime.

[grumpyirishman]

If you know its a police vehicle it can't be towed or booted..

phillyrube,
I see that you are in Virginia. VA Code 46.2-1231 regulates the towing from private property. Here is the link.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...+cod+46.2-1231

It allows a property owner or his agent to have a trespassing vehicle towed or booted....

BUT

The last paragraph states..
"This section shall not apply to police, fire, or public health vehicles or where a vehicle, because of a wreck or other emergency, is parked or left temporarily on the property of another."

[SgtCHP]

A vehicle that has prominently displayed lighting - red/blue - visible from without, and all of the accoutrements associated with law enforcement would most certainly not be an "undercover" unit. Therefore, the registration should be available through your DMV (even confidential plates are available to LE). If the unit is not one of your own, then you did the right thing. Also, it is on private property and therefore would become the responsibility of the property management.

Once again, it would appear that some uninformed person has cast a shadow on all of the profession by being stupid.

I might have been tempted to have it towed to my station and made the driver contact the office to get it back.

[nobodyjr]

Well since only the management (Lt's and up) here get nice cars like that; while the det's drive crap Ford Taurus's and Contours, and since the security guard is the one making the final move since it's on private property: I'd tell him to tow it. And then get the f out of there.

[grumpyirishman]

Also from VA (NOVA, where there are hundreds of agencies and unmarked vehicles..

I would have had our contract towing service relocate the vehicle on the department's dime.

[AZLawDawg]

I would've told the resident to park right next to the PD car and leave the keys with security. After the LEO comes out, we'll explain the error of his/her ways, put the residents car back in the spot and deliver the keys to the apartment of said resident. That's just me though, that may not have been a viable option for you at the time.

[phillyrube]

Had a call last night to one of our more exclusive high rise hotel/apartments. Seems there is a police car parked in a residents spot, and security didn't want to tow it or boot it (+1 for them). Resident is screaming about his spot being taken. I ride over there to check it out. Yup, it sure looks like a cop car. Blue unmarked CVPI, red/blue lights, big inside lightbar on rear deck. Siren, 2 radios, switch panel. Not one of ours. We check the hotel to see if they are having a conference of some sort (they are not). Checking the names on the register and vehicles, none match. Tags come back not on file (not unusual for unmarked cars in VA). Security wants to do something, resident is screaming. Options are a: tow it for 150.00, or b: boot it for $25.00. I told him to boot it. Resident is happy, after blasting me about police just doing what they want.

Right decision???