On the night of Monday, April 17, 2006, I drove to Hoboken to stay with my son in his condo. My purpose was to be there the next morning so that rugs could be installed. He had to go to work while I am retired and could spare the time. I arrived in Hoboken at 9:20 p.m. and found a parking space alongside the condo building on Harrison St.
The rug installation was completed the following day, and I left at 2 p.m. on the 18th. When I got to my van I found that I had received a parking ticket for not having a resident sticker and also had a boot on my front wheel. I understand the ticket. The sign explaining the sticker rule was on a pole right where I was parked (although I did not see it at 9:20 p.m.), but why the boot?
I called the number on the sheet affixed to my wiper and was told by the lady that I had to pay the ticket before the boot could be removed. I gave her a credit card number, and she said she would give me the code to remove the boot if I would promise to return it to their garage. I told her I was not familiar with the city and to please send someone down to remove it. She said this would take 15 minutes to one half hour. At 3 p.m. (45 minutes later) a man showed up and said he had been given the wrong address on River Road. He quickly removed the boot and I drove off.
Today, April 21, I received a receipt in the mail from the Hoboken Parking Utility stating I have been charged $130 to remove the boot. Now I look at my parking ticket for $45 and realized I've been scammed. Never was I told about a boot fee. I was told I had to pay the parking ticket fee by credit over the phone in order to have the boot removed.
Obviously I still owe the $45 ticket.
If you are aware of this situation then I also accuse you of being in on the scam. Booting cars for parking tickets? Lying by your parking personnel. What the hell is going on! Obviously, your government has found another nefarious way to raise funds.
Sincerely, Michael F. Flynn
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