Christmas Shopping With Booters?
One of our avid readers has been coming across city boot vans parked in front of retail stores while out doing his holiday shopping.
The question is why aren’t the boot vans doing something else like, well…booting?
His theory?
Even booters need to get their Christmas shopping done.
“In the past week, I’ve run into two booters out shopping for Christmas presents,” says Tony via e-mail. “Late last week around 10 PM, I saw this one booter walking into the Target on Elston while I was checking out about 9 PM.”
Click on photos below to see full size image
But then last Thursday night, Tony and his girlfriend ran into another booter shopping at the Village Discount on Kedzie north of Irving Park around 8 PM.
“My girlfriend wanted to do a bit of thrifting so she dragged me into the Village Discount,” Tony explained. “Again, walking out of the store, a booter walks right past us. I didn’t know why he wasn’t out booting cars, and even though my car is not bootable, I ran outside to make sure. We didn’t have a boot, but then I checked to see if the boot van driver had paid the meter. Guess what? No meter receipt on the windshield!!!”
We had to double check. Because, we know all Dept. of Revenue personnel would never forget to feed the meter, right? So we e-mailed Tony back to check if he was sure.
“YES!,” Tony e-mailed back including another photo he took. “I checked twice and took this photo (see photo above) and made sure it was a metered block and it was. The pay station was like three car lengths in front of the boot van. What the hell? I’m paying a fortune to park on the streets and these guys think they can park anywhere and not pay? Total double standard. That sucks.”
In closing, we asked Tony if he had any holiday message for Chicago’s booters.
“Ah, it’s nearly Christmas,” Tony responded. “Merry Christmas–that’s all.”
Well said Tony.
Hey, The more they are in shopping the less booting they are doing and thus could be giving another person a Christmas break!!
GREAT point!
I agree. Keep on shopping booters!
There are many reasons that the Booters were at the stores:
-Lunch
-Bathroom break
….Let’s don’t judge a book by its cover.
Also, how do we know that the receipt did not fly away from the dash once they closed the door?
You’re absolutely right Dummy.
They could be on lunch break or a bathroom break. Totally legitimate.
But, if any other driver is doing shopping on their lunch break they still have to feed the meters.
While it is possible the receipt blew off the dashboard, I think the chances are pretty slim, especially for someone within the DOR who would theoretically be more savvy than the typical motorist.
Even a grinch has to shop for Christmas!
I am highly offended by the fact that the meters were enforced on Christmas Day and are enforced year round on Sunday. The increases on those days is unlimited (as they were once free) and particularly in the neighborhoods, is wholly and completely uncalled for.
The first things that I would do as Mayor would be:
1. Make it illegal for a non-Government Employee to write tickets; and
2. Make it illegal for a Government Employee to write tickets to enforce a private right.
The Meter Folk can still collect. They can find out who is parking without paying and sue them in Court for breach of contract. That’s what the rest of us have to do if someone breaks a contract with us. We don’t have the Government “enforcing” our contracts.