ATLANTA — Two anonymous women in Atlanta are fighting back against the private parking industry’s practice of booting cars.
They argue that the practice is predatory, and they are going viral online for removing the boots for drivers at a lesser fee than the parking companies.
They call themselves the Boot Girls.
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They spoke to Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco about the attention and praise they are receiving on social media.
“It expanded out of nowhere,” said one of the women.
The women wear pink and bedazzled masks to hide their identities. Recognizing the masks, a fan of the duo yelled out as they left an interview with Francisco, “That’s the Boot Girls! We love you!”
The Boot Girls will swoop in and remove a boot from someone’s car for a flat fee of $50. If the driver cannot afford that, they say they work with them. However, they say $50 is less than most parking companies charge. A City of Atlanta ordinance allows the companies to charge up to $75 a day for every day the boot is on the car.
The Boot Girls said they got the idea when their car was booted.
They searched online and found ATL Boot Key. A business that sells copies of keys that unlock to boots. They say they bought the key for less than the parking company charged for the boot removal, and the idea grew from there.
Christian Verrette owns ATL Boot Key. He said he started selling them after getting booted about a year ago.
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“It’s predatory,” said Verrette. “It is holding someone hostage. You are holding someone for ransom: $75, or you cannot go anywhere.”
The parking companies argue the drivers are parked on private property without paying.
Verrette said ticketing is the better alternative.
“I’m just trying to out-right eliminate the boot,” said Verrette. “It is not about business for me. Business has been good, but, still, at the end of the day, my heart is banning the boot.”
This week, after the Boot Girls video took off on social media, he said he sold $50,000 worth of keys. That is more than 300 orders. He said he recently handed out free keys in a low-income housing community.
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Atlanta Police Department sent out a warning saying:
“Recently, it has been brought to our attention that many motorists within the city are investing in Boot Keys, which is a key used to unlock the booting device.
While owning a Boot Key is not illegal, here is what the public needs to know:
It is not illegal to own a Boot Key.
If you use a Boot Key to modify, tamper, or disengage a booting device from a vehicle, you can be charged with:
- Criminal Trespass (O.C.G.A. 16-7-21) and/or
- Theft of Services (O.C.G.A. 16-8-5) and/or
- Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A. 16-8-2) and/or
- Damage to Property 2nd Degree (O.C.G.A. 16-7-23)”
Verrette said he believes those laws are a stretch, and he has legal representation.
The warning also said:
“The Atlanta Police Department is aware that parking within the city when patronizing private business establishments can sometimes be challenging. Many of these businesses have designated parking areas that occupy private property.
“The owners of these businesses are authorized to either boot or tow vehicles that violate the terms of their private parking areas through independent contracts. The Atlanta Police Department does not intervene between motorists and private business owners when vehicles are booted in violation unless a criminal matter arises.”
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