Two masked vigilantes, who go by the names ‘Boot Shiesty’ and ‘Boot Baby,’ are assisting drivers in Atlanta whose cars have been immobilized by wheel locks applied by private companies. The “Boot Girls” are responding to a problem that politicians and drivers agree is plaguing the city’s streets.
Charging $50 per client, the Boot Girls say that they often respond to drivers from 8:00 a.m. to as late as 3:00 a.m. the following morning, unlocking the immobilizers that have been clamped to their vehicles.
Using a boot key they purchased legally, the vigilantes are just two of the people who have made a side hustle of freeing parked cars, ABC News reports. Most of the vehicles in questions are being immobilized by private companies, not the municipality.
The companies are often working for businesses and are operating under city ordinances that many believe have led to a booting epidemic that drivers have little recourse to fight back against.
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“This is big business in Atlanta. Everyone profits. The booting companies profit, and the parking companies profit. Even the business owners profit,” Matt Wetherington, an attorney who has represented thousands of vehicle owners, said. “And the people who are parking… even in their own homes, are the ones paying the cost.”
Politicians are also attempting to respond to the rise in booting. At both the city and state level, efforts have been made to ban the practice. Georgia State Senator Josh McLaurin said that it attempted to create regulations for booting five years ago, but lost support from the companies profiting off it, and that it later failed to pass.
He plans to reintroduce the bill, but the private booting companies still oppose an outright ban, as has been proposed by city council members. Jeff Philipps, the owner of one such company, believes there’s no better solution.
“If you ban booting it’s going to leave my client with one option and that’s towing,” he said. “Unfortunately for people who are in violation at that point, the fee will be three to five times higher.”
However, that may be a false dichotomy. According to McLaurin, there are “all kinds of different alternatives,” such as tickets, controlled access, in addition to towing and booting, which could help ease tensions.
Nevertheless, as it stands, booting continues, and Phillips told ABC that he is trying to press charges against the Boot Girls. While it is not illegal to possess a key, the Atlanta Police say that people who tamper, modify, or disengage a device can be charged with criminal trespass, theft of services, theft by taking, and damage of property.
The Boot Girls seem to be responding to a desire that almost everyone agrees on, though. Along with Senator McLauring, State Senator John Albers said he also hopes that legislation will arrive to help drivers.
“This is a bad industry. It’s wrong on all levels,” he said of booting. “And our job as lawmakers is to address that and protect our citizens.”