CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte City Council members asked a local towing company Wednesday about its booting practices. They are trying to learn more after some complained the booting was predatory.
Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon said the city doesn't want to get involved in policing private parking lots, but at the same time wants to make sure there is not a larger public issue going on.
"The last thing we want is for anyone to be engaged in being preyed upon as it relates to booting," Cannon said.
The company said what it is doing isn't predatory and it is just trying to enforce rules in a private parking lot.
"In order to watch people that don't follow the signs, we have to sit out there and watch," said James Miller from United Towing.
The towing company said some customers have been catching on. If they see they're going to be caught parking where they shouldn't, they visit one of these businesses to buy something and get a receipt to get out of the boot.
"Bring an undercover cop and just watch and sit out there with me a day and they can see a lot of things going on," Miller said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department told the council members it is getting calls from citizens and has no choice but to order boots removed if there's a receipt.
Cannon said he is glad the city was able to hear from both sides. Council is waiting now to hear from legal counsel about how the city should or shouldn't get involved.
WSOC
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