MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Nearly 1,000 vehicles have been towed by the city of Memphis since the beginning of 2012 due to the "Boot and Tow" program.
Downtown parking is no joke. The city is getting ready for the next phase of the "Boot and Tow" program.
Memphis plans to start the "boot" part of the program in December. That means if you have three unpaid parking tickets you will get the boot.
The program started in January 2012. It was a way to get people's attention so they'll pay their parking tickets. Parking tickets typically run about $25. On the third unpaid ticket, your car may be towed or even get the boot.
"The focus has been on the top 100 offenders. In this case typically it’s the individuals who owe upwards to at least $500 for parking tickets,” said Memphis Chief Administrative Officer George Little.
There are some tight parking spots in downtown. A few drivers claim they've seen the city use forklifts to move illegally parked cars. Little says the city doesn't use forklifts.
"If a forklift is used at all by the city typically that'll be on the impound lot because we don't have the keys to the car and we have to move the vehicles around to stage and make space,” said Little.
It's more likely your car will get the boot than be towed because it's quicker and cheaper for the city. All you need is three unpaid parking tickets.
