NYC Police Now Using Giant Suction Cups to Enforce Parking Violations!
New York City is notorious for its strict parking enforcement. Drivers are issued thousands of dollars in fines and summonses for parking violations every day. The New York Police Department (NYPD) even has a specialized unit devoted to traffic enforcement.
In addition to regular parking tickets, officers use different tools like the infamous “wheel clamp,” commonly known as the “boot,” to immobilize cars. But now, if you park illegally in New York, you might face a different consequence—a giant suction cup on your windshield.
This device, called the “barnacle,” is the latest tool the NYPD is using to handle parking violations. It works by attaching itself to your car’s windshield, making it impossible for the driver to see clearly. Imagine coming back to your car and finding a large device stuck to the front glass, preventing you from driving safely without addressing the violation first.
We’ve all seen those bright yellow “boots” attached to a car’s wheel—an unpleasant reminder of parking enforcement. Usually, these boots are put on after multiple violations, and they won’t be removed until you pay the outstanding fines.
The barnacle, however, operates a little differently. Instead of locking the car’s wheel, this new device sticks directly to the windshield, using powerful suction to make sure it stays in place. In fact, it reportedly has a suction force of 1,000 pounds, so good luck trying to pull it off on your own!
A police officer or enforcement agent places the barnacle on your windshield and locks it in place with a key. From that moment, the suction ensures the device won’t budge, blocking your visibility and making it unsafe to drive. But here’s the catch: unlike the wheel boot, the barnacle doesn’t stop you from physically driving the car.
You could technically drive with it still attached, but it would be extremely dangerous since it would obstruct your view of the road. Trying to drive without clear visibility would create a serious safety risk, so removing it before hitting the road is the only logical choice.
There is, however, one significant advantage the barnacle offers over the traditional boot: it’s easier to resolve. Once the barnacle is attached to your windshield, you don’t have to wait around for a parking enforcement officer to come and remove it for you.
As long as you don’t have more severe penalties, like an arrest warrant, you can pay your fine online or over the phone, receive a code to release the barnacle yourself, and then return it to a drop box. This means no more waiting on someone to come and free your car—you’re in control of resolving the situation quickly.
While it’s still embarrassing and inconvenient to deal with a barnacle stuck to your windshield, the process of resolving it is certainly faster than waiting for the boot to be taken off. It’s just another way New York City is stepping up its parking enforcement game, ensuring that drivers pay attention to parking regulations or face the consequences.
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Avoiding these devices is simple: don’t park illegally. But if you do, the barnacle offers a relatively quick fix—as long as you’re willing to pay the fine.