BPD Update: How is the Smart Boot Program Going?
PIO Sgt. Mary C. Kusmiss explains the city's new program to deal with parking ticket violators. A total of 188 vehicles have been booted since the Smart Boot Program began Oct. 18.
Sgt. Mary C. Kusmiss S-6, Office of the Chief.
Berkeley Police Department
Photos (1)
Photos
Q: How is the Smart Boot Program going since it started?
Answer by Sgt. Mary C. Kusmiss S-6 BPD Public Information Officer.
The booting program that began in the City of Berkeley on Oct. 18, 2011 is running very smoothly. The City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) continues to work closely with the City of Berkeley Finance Department and PayLock Customer Service to best serve community members/vehicle owners.
During the week of Oct. 31, 2011, the BPD Boot Team booted 58 vehicles and towed 12. Vehicles are towed 48 hours after booting.
A total of 23 of the 58 were actually self-released. The vehicle owner paid the outstanding citation fines and got a code to release the boot.
Since the program’s inception, Oct. 18, 2011, BPD has booted 188 vehicles.
- 113 of those have been self-released
- 23 have been towed
- 82 percent are using the online help center to pay their outstanding fees and clear their records
- 18 percent are paying in person at the City of Berkeley Customer Service/Finance Center
Some of the other communities across the country that use the SmartBoot are Oakland, Rochester, Salt Lake City, Baltimore, Syracuse, Wilmington, Fredericksburg, New Orleans, and Denver.
For more information about the Smart Boot Program, visit the City of Berkeley's website.
Ian Crew
8:31 am on Saturday, November 12, 2011
Please check your math: 23 of 58 is not 74 percent (it's 39.7%), and 113 of 188 is not 84 percent (it's 60%).
Heather Wood
1:31 pm on Saturday, November 12, 2011
Do people whose car gets booted and don't have the huge fine just lose their cars then? I think this whole boot thing is jacked.