Investigation into windshield barnacles and hefty parking fines they bring to drivers
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- Опубликовано: 8 ноя 2023
- An Action News Investigation has led to city council hearings on what some may consider predatory parking.
The issue is a relatively new device being used in the City of Philadelphia called a "windshield barnacle" that is suctioned to the windshield of a vehicle.
It is designed to immobilize a vehicle by blocking a driver's view, and it is removed after many would consider a hefty fine.
Last month, the investigative team parked in a lot on the 4600 hundred block of Main Street in Manayunk. #news #towing #parking #philadelphia
6abc.com/philadelphia-parking...
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Definitely unsafe. If they think people won't just drive with these instead of pay, they've never met the people of Philadelphia.
😂😂😂
That blame goes on the driver not on the installers of the barnacle then.
Well this will play out badly. Someone will drive with it on, then, have a wreck and the company will be sued.
This is extortion, the company should post procedures of being late. That is not a boot. In this day and age, we are being
Squeezed for money from every direction. Where is the compassion? God Bless🙏
😂
@mommabear5505 lmao no company is getting sued for ypu breaking the law kiddo. Just like the ppl who drive with wheel boots can't sue the company either...
As it turns out, to take off the Barnacle, all you need to do is run your vehicle’s windshield defroster for 15 minutes, and then use a credit card or similar thin piece of plastic to release the suction cup around the edge. Presto! You’re free from fees.
They can't take you to court because what they are doing is illegal.
And steal or break that device afterward
Realistically what they should do is just tow the car to an impound lot and then you can use that credit card to get it out of there magically.
Very Good Grasshopper... 🦗
@@mofomocoI'd drop a deuce on it !
Business idea: Since she said "you can drive off", that means her company has relinquished all ownership rights to it. So, you can roam the lots, put your business flyer offering to remove it for $20 to $50 bucks, and then once removed, presumably by drilling into it or something similar, then you can call the parking company and ask them how much they are willing to pay you to give it back to them.
My first thought was to inspect it drill the housing out so you can see then pierce both suction cups it seems like less to get around than a boot which would call for a cutting torch 😈
slide a thin wedge under it to break the seal, that thing comes off easy peasy.
Lock picking lawyer here on YT shows you how to remove the boot easy. @@jordanrowan2537
@@user-wt5bf4rw7e I thought I heard it took some extra heat added to it as well for it to come off
@@jordanrowan2537 actually boots are pretty easy to get off too. Dremel and batter pack will make quick work of them. Plus you can force most off with releative short work if you got your tire iron or something else to pry it off. Dremel and batter pack work best.
Any time, there is a fine introduced as a form of punishment, it automatically gives the rich a pass, and can ruin those whom are already impoverished.
“Of course you can drive withiut being able to see”
This woman is a disgrace to humanity.
As if americans weren't bad enough at driving...
Yes you can drive like ace ventura 😂
LOL her perspective may come from another level... it a brainless idiot can "run a country" surely a person can drive a car without seeing???
@@WolfHeathen Your little jab at Americans doesn't even make sense. Even if that were true It's not like everyone is exactly the same. You realize we're the 3rd most populated country on Earth right?
@@warsamaosman0894 Chitty bang bang.... yep ROFL
Purposely disabling a car in a city like Philadelphia could be a death sentence for the vehicle owner.
And I guarantee the government does not care if their actions get anyone killed.
Donut media shows exactly how to pop those off with no damage to auto or devise.
So do something about the crime...😉
new fear unlocked.
@@douglasharbert3340 It's not a crime. If it was a crime, they'd take you to jail. This is just extractive bullshit.
Students at Oklahoma University figured out how to defeat these years ago. To take off the Barnacle, all you need to do is run your vehicle’s windshield defroster for 15 minutes, and then use a credit card or similar thin piece of plastic to release the suction cup around the edge. Presto! You’re free from fees. BTW, the company that makes these doesn't sell them, they rent them out at $250./month.
Doesn't work anymore. The company upgraded them so that doesn't work anymore.
retired locksmith here. from the video of the "barnacle", i could see a few potential bypasses of the item. the primary one would be to breach the seal of the suction cup via a small tube to equalize air pressure from either by approaching from the side, or via the air exhaust port. once the pressure is equalized, it would be a matter of simply lifting the item off of the windshield and then throwing it on the ground and running over it a few times. before i could speak with any confidence about the other possibilities, i would need to examine one more closely.
It's pretty easy to remove. Handy drill pops the seal.
Heard you can turn your defrost on high and pry them off, seen a video don't know if its accurate to be honest.
@@apgthewolf it should weaken the amount of suction. As you heat up the air under the barnacle it will expand and increase in pressure which will decrease the difference in pressure between the atmosphere and that under the barnacle. Whether or not you can pull it off by hand or if you need a tool to break the seal before removing it is the main question.
@@chrisoffutt8968 I had seen one where they used a flat head screwdriver to get it off after heating it. Interested to see if anyone has done it. Thanks for the response!
I would think that the fastest way to break that seal would be to use a painters multi-tool to attack the suction cup from an edge, pry it up, pop a piece of cloth under that edge, then go for the suction cup on the other panel. Fold them together and re--vacuum the suction cups together and drop it in their return bin. Then you don't get sued for damage to their property. If they want to come after you for the parking fees, debit those for the returned device, and charge them for the multi-tool.
If you are going to charge $175 as a fee for cars that go over their time by less than 30 minutes, you should have a very visible table of the fees per minutes over posted where you pay to park. Predatory seems a good term for the current practice.
No table ie necessary. If you go over your time at all then this is the charge. Not hard to be responsible.
@@josephhodges9819 We found the sucker.
@@josephhodges9819 $475 for 15 mins? Even had to like your own comment lol
@@jwkayk360again...be responsible then...it's not hard unless you're just some dum entitled little kid
@@jwkayk360 This dude is literally in the comments defending the shit out of these things. Like I think you could argue that a $50 dollar fine for every 15 minutes might be reasonable with a max before towing. Is that reasonable, idk. Its not a humongous amount of money, but its an inconvenient amount to where most people would try to avoid it. $475 for 15 minutes is absolutely stupid, as is $175.
This why you should pay the fine with a credit card and then dispute the charge. It creates an incredible amount of paperwork for the merchant and if they don’t respond to the credit card company the dispute is permanent.
Please don't bring logic and common sense to a video of rabid outrage.
You will make every other post here look stupid.
A lot of tow companies won't accept credit cards, only cash, just for that reason.
@@dicky7600 That part.
@@dicky7600 Edit.... 'will make (nearly) every other post here look stupid.'
thats why they don't take credit cards.
"To take off the Barnacle, all you need to do is run your vehicle’s windshield defroster for 15 minutes, and then use a credit card or similar thin piece of plastic to release the suction cup around the edge. Presto! You’re free from fees.
Other students shared other solutions - blocking its signal and deactivating it by covering it in aluminum, or fitting your windshield with a mock Barnacle of your own - but our fave low-tech workaround was shared by a user who found out his campus only had 12 wheel boots to go around and bought and illegally parked 12 scrapyard cars that could be “sacrificed” so everyone else could park however they wanted."
"Because it has a GPS tracker meant to set off a loud alarm whenever it, or the car it’s attached to, moves, the Barnacle also has a built-in SIM card. One reddit user figured out the SIM card had unlimited data, and hacked it so they could tether their own personal cell phone to its network, giving them unlimited free phone data for several months."
"Once it's been removed, the Barnacle can be opened with a simple Torx screwdriver and its SIM extracted."
herarrogant tone when she said 'ofcourse you can' is exactly why people don't trust tow companies, and treat them all like criminals.
I wonder if she'd want the barnacle returned if you just drove off as she said you could?
That woman from the company saying the reporter could just drive off seemed to me like she was saying you didn't have to return her illegally placed barnacle. Now we just need people posting videos of ways to get the barnacle off without damaging the car. Remove it and damage it beyond repair. Leave it in the parking spot with a note warning anyone else who tried to park there.
They would have you charged with theft, if you drove off with it.
If you tow your own car with the device attached, the device has a tracking device inside so... you are being illegaly being tracked. Just destroy the device for your own privacy as if you find someone attaching a device to spy you placed in your car.
I've heard you can just turn your defroster on full power and wait a bit and then use a credit card to break the suction.
drive off with the thing on the window, that's what I heard. I'll remove it myself, thanks.
No, you're not getting it back.
I rather pay to fix my windshield, instead of paying those idiots a fine to get the barnacle taken off.
I have the same type of suction cups for moving glass. They can take around 250 pounds of pull force, but all you gotta go is damage the edge to break suction. Carry a dollar store metal ruler in your car to prevent getting extorted like this, or to help someone else.
My dude 🤘✊
That was my thought too the first time I saw a windshield barnacle. A slim piece of metal (dollar store ruler, or two) should be able to break the seal on the suction cups.
That's what I was thinking. Can't you just jam a flat pice of metal between the barnacle and the windshield, and break the suction?
Pretty sure everyone in Philly carries a slim jim.
it's philly. Use your hypodermic needle. Just inject air.
Amazing how much technology is available to catch a "Criminal" few minutes late to a parking spot.
With the owner of the towing company saying its safe to drive with it attached, if someone took her advice and crashed and killed someone I fear the lawsuit against her and her company would be one for the record books. Might involve criminal charges as well.
This is the way to go
No, it would not because it is on the driver 98% of the time on whether driving a vehicle is safe or not. The other 2% is after you pick up your vehicle from maintenance and get into a vehicle because they screwed up something like lug nuts or something else that endangers the driver.
@@josephhodges9819 I think the lot owner telling the vehicle owner "it's safe to drive with it on the glass" may be a crime by itself as long as it can be proven they said it. "Counselling"
"What is counselling in criminal law?
the act of persuading or inducing the commission of the offence. the intention that the offence be committed or. an awareness that the unjustified risk that the offence would be committed as a result of the counselling."
"You should have known better than to drive the car" Never underestimate the power of stupid people.
@@owenmcdonald6479 Sorry but it does not matter what anyone tells you, it is up to the driver to determine if it is safe. If you have a giant pad in front of your windshield and you cannot see, then that is your fault 100% of the time. If a person is too stupid to figure that out, then they do not deserve a license.
Oh, you're absolutely right. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. I'm sure stupidity isn't either. But it doesn't help when the idiot that put it on your car tells you to go ahead and drive it. I think the legality of disabling someones car like this is debatable and there could be consequences. IE: The lot owner finds out too late that he put a carbuncle on a car that turns out to be the president of the local chapter of Hell's Angels. It's the predatory aspect that bothers me.
It's almost impossible to get police to remove a car that is parked across the end of your driveway on a pubic street in many areas. @@josephhodges9819
Fun Fact: You can get a windshield replaced for about 200$.
Just bust your windshield out. Drive home slowly. And have it replaced the following day.
Send an invoice to "Bobs Towing" - If you want your "barnacle" back, please pay 500$. Seems pretty simple to me.
Mine will cost me $500. That is my deductible 😢
@@pr3942 You don't have to got through insurance if the repair cost is less than the deductable.
Not on a ‘20 Chevy Equinox with the crash alert sensor embedded in the windshield, $850
Fun Fact: Many windshields on newer cars cost $2,000 - $3,000 and require recalibration of radar sensors, auto-drive systems....etc and must be done by a dealership with tools not always available to 3rd party shops.
This reminds me of when GST was caught dragging cars into illegal spots and then taking pictures and towing them away.
Hard to imagine any kind of shortage of illegal parking that would necessitate that? Pure laziness is probably the reason... along with this new windscreen device - too lazy to fit a wheel lock, that's all it is.
Holy crap, I never heard about that. What is GST?
Had that happen to me in Portland OR. Was in a branded company pizza delivery car, parked at a white curb loading zone, flashers on. Scumbag towing company moved the car into the red fire lane. Cost me $350 out of pocket to get the car unhooked. That’s more than my monthly rent at the time. Total scam and predatory as hell.
I was there for five minutes tops. Tow companies are shady as hell and will drag your car and take photos.
@@mystikmind2005
It's because of the absurdly high parking fines. These companies.make the majority of their income off of these exorbitant fines, rather than the actual parking fees.
@@iceblade02 Sure, where i said 'lazy' earlier, just insert 'cheap, money hungry, and lazy' instead.
I live in Scotland. Things like this (and wheel clamps) are banned as they were classed as "extortion and theft".
It's not theft, if you are illegally parked, then you can and should have your right to drive taken away
@@12369ja If you are in a paid parking bay or lot and are a few minutes late, that IS NOT ILLEGAL PARKING. In my country you pay for minutes parked, so NO ONE gets towed..... And it's not as expensive as in this clip....
@@MickH60 yes it is ILLEGAL PARKING IF YOU ARE LATE IDIOT
If there is a small chip in the windshield, the suction could cause a huge crack. Who's going to cover that damage? It would be the person or company that placed the device on the vehicle. ALSO, forbidding someone to use their property is called "Trespass to Chattels." (which is defined as intentional interference with another person's lawful possession of personal property). That is an actionable tort by the victim.
you're ignoring the implied/unwritten civil contract of paid parking on private property. I think that the fees/penalties for overstaying the amount of time you have contracted for should have to be clearly posted with the amount of said penalty regulated by the municipality. $150 is completely unreasonable but if the penalty is/was clearly and prominently displayed, potential customers could avoid using the lot/parking service...
The owner of the lot and the towing company should have to resolve this in the correct framework of the law... by preventing the vehicle from leaving (drop a steel post into a reinforced hole and lock it in place) and denying the owner access to the vehicle (they do have to allow the personal contents to be claimed) then filing a storage lien.
I don't like it but that is the correct way to address the situation. The method they are using now is illegal. Not posting the entire civil contract for using their facility is actionable in civil court. There is your tort.
It's the responsibility of the municipality to stop the illegal immobilization and towing of vehicles.... and it is clear that they have been intentionally ignoring it... I wonder if the Mayor or City Council persons are connected to the lot owner or the tow company?
*crash* Safelite repair, Safelite replace!
@@juststeve7665 - This is not the Wild West. In a civilized world, one transgression does not allow another. The simple remedy would be a proactive one. Customers (renters) are paying for the parking spot by credit card. So, the parking contract should charge a certain amount for the timed rental and pre-approve a possible penalty. If the tenant overstays, the second fee (penalty) is applied. If the renter objects, they can log a dispute or take the parking lot owner to small claims court; just as the lot owner can take the renter to court if they do not use this proactive approach (I assume they have cameras covering the parking lot and record the cars' plates there). A contractual clause explaining such conditions should be clearly printed on the parking pass issued by the machine and mentioned in prominent signage when entering the lot and when purchasing the parking pass. This is an established practice in Common Law.
After google problem with gift credit card I don't use credit cards
This type of thing was banned in Scotland, including wheel clamps, it’s classed as extortion.
One chronic parking offender installed window protection film on his vehicle and whenever he got barnicled he would just peel off the entire sheet along with the device.
nice idea
I bet a thin piece of plastic or metal would break the seal and release the “barnacle”
Why would anyone go to the trouble, money and labor instead of paying for the parking and getting out when you are supposed to?
@@Bigstooler0 It was actually very cheap. He owns a business installing paint protection film on cars. He lived in a building with a messed up parking situation. People visiting the his housing complex would take his spot and nobody could or would do anything about it. He often had no choice but to park in a parking lot at the neighboring complex who were very strict and barnacled vehicles without a sticker.
@@rickb3674 Thanks
Imagine if they did this to an emergency responder, that was either running late because they got called or were responding to a call.
Or an unmarked cop car.
This is absolutely ridiculous. I can't believe such greed exist and it's getting worse. This ought to be highly illegal.
If the defroster trick doesn't work, always keep a rechargeable drill in the car. A coule well placed holes disable it.
That's what I was thinking.
It will also get you sued for the cost of replacement.
so you think that they just put these on a vehicle and walk away without documenting where it was put to include a plate number? You can take it off, if you can get it off and you will still get a ticket for the parking fine and most likely the barnacle. The report said it was 475.00. You can try to ignore the ticket and wind up in court where you will be found guilty and fined the 475.00 plus court costs. So now you are on the hook for 500.00 dollars or more. Not real bright in my opinion
I just had a windshield glass replaced. $120. I would kick the glass out and drive away before I paid $450. Anyway if you have access to a long piece of metal like a hanger you can pop the this off without any damage to it or the vehicle.
Yes also many people have free (no deductible) glass coverage on their car insurance. @@mike-sk2li
That lady that said you could drive with a barnacle just owned any damages anyone does.
thats not how the legal system works kiddo.
she didn't say you should, she accurately said you could.
@@crepitus3552 He didn't say the lady said you should either. He also said could. ??
It's pretty simple to drive with it on.
Drive away with a barnacle attached, and you be charged for stealing the barnacle.
I used to own an auto glass company. This is an easy fix. We used suction cups like that to carry the glass, all you have to do is lift the edge a bit to release the suction. Just have something longish to jimmy it. Also, it'd be cheaper to have a new windshield installed. Third, you can still drive by looking under it and at least get out of the lot. I mean, she said that was cool.
She's not in the business of parking. She's in the business of extortion.
You know that those are actually easier to remove on your own than the boot was. We have them in chicago too, and my buddy has one sitting in his living room on display after he removed it.
How long did the alarm run till it shut up?
I'm betting the tools I routinely carry in my vehicle could remove that in under a minute. Not without considerable damage to the device, but wouldn't harm my glass. Since it's not put on by law enforcement, it's just garbage someone left on your vehicle. Make sure to dispose of them in the proper waste container so as to not litter.
you dont even need tools jsut blast the windshield defrost at full heat and it loosens the suction
@1:54 People need to start fighting back against this crap. The lady who owns the company said "Your car is not immobilized. You are free to go and drive off at your free will" so it should be completely legal to remove the suction cups yourself. The quickest way I have found to accomplish this is using a lighter and coat hanger. Heat the tip of the hanger, slide it under the barnacle, and melt a hole in the rubber suction cups so they lose suction. If you don't have those items available just put the defroster on full blast, wait 10-20 mins and then use your ice scraper to loosen the suction cups.
Have you tried this on one of these actual barnacles? Or are you talking about some other type of suction cups?
Just wondering, that if by that statement the tow owner accepted liability for any accident/damage the driver may cause by driving with barnacle attached. Perhaps?
It also means you get to keep it after removing it.
It's sucks for me to have to drive 30 miles to a walmart or big town/city, however this makes me glad i live out in the country and don't have to worry about this crap.
And people are wondering why major cities in America are suffering. Who’d want to live in a place like this? Just leave for a better place.
I’m 1000% driving home with my head out the window like a dog.
Hell even having it towed home is cheaper than paying those scam artists to remove it. And I bet they’d threaten you to try to get their barnacle back.
After I break the suction though, that bad boi belongs to me.
Disgusting predators.
technically once they attach it to your car, it is your property. kinda like how anything bolted to the walls of a house are part of the house.
1) get a barnacle
2) creatively remove it
3) ???
4) mirth and merriment ! as the tow company is deprived of a $350 device.
@@bigbadhodad3894 I'll kindly give the barnacle back..... on their windshield this time
She even said “you are free to drive away”!
Go back to the lot without paying and get a new Barnacles every day, sell them all to other lots, profit and get free parking at the same time.
My first thought was Ace Ventura
As a land owner myself in Philadelphia, most major land owners are greedy companies making tons of money doing minimal work...they think sitting at a desk organizing things is the work...and we the laborers are the ones who get screwed at every corner, whether it's our low wages or stupid fines for parking somewhere a couple extra minutes. GREEDY
A land owner or laborer, which is the lie?
@@ad1vet783 As a land owner myself you are BOTH, It is lots of labor clearing the land. Just cleared an acre to plant corn. The settlers were definitely hardy stock. Stumps are a mother. Had one burning underground for 4 days. Looked like lava flow at night with the glow.
There's a theory that that's WHAT volcanoes ARE. Ancient tree stumps.
@@mariantreber8055 Yes democrats will blame our car air conditioner for melting Greenland's glaciers. NOT the erupting volcano next to it on Iceland.
@@robertsmith2956you dunce
"We need to stand up, and fight back." 😂😂😂 what a nut
You sound like the nut.
“The car isn’t immobilized” what a joke 😂
I couldn't imagine anyone getting mad or physically violent in Philly over this.
People are removing them with hot water and throwing them away... Lol
@@champion20199 Yeah, I figured there'd be a scientifically easy way to remove it without damaging the car. With winter coming up, I'm waiting for an owner to accidentally shatter their windshield doing this, so the tow company gets sued for its replacement.
I mean, if you act like a gangster trying to shake people down for money, you should expect to be dealt with like a gangster
Im not in Philly, but I'd be mad about paying 100 dollars for being three to ten minutes late without warning of the barnacle. Abolutely makes logical sense to get mad about that one...
😂😂
This should be considered vandalism.
Then the vehicle it gets placed on for staying past the meter time should be considered trespassing and the owner should be charged.
@@josephhodges9819 is it not an exorbitant amount to charge over $50 dollars for someone being less than an hour late?
Only acceptable answer is yes or no.
@@josephhodges9819no
They are gonna suck it down on one with a rock peck and it's gonna crack the windshield.
@@josephhodges9819 overstaying by 5 minutes is worth over $400 in fines? If you believe that, you're a clown.
In my trunk tool kit, there’s always a utility knife and a lighter. A Bobs towing would find their barnacle on the ground with blackened edges….
Their dispatcher says of course you can drive wit it on yo windshield 🤩
This happens to truckers all the time and it cost a lot more than 400$ to get it removed.
you just nudge the suction cup with a metal ruler or similar. pops right off.
Clearly the marketplace lacks a windshield barnacle remover. But it should be available next year.
I wonder if you heat the inside of the glass (where the pad sits on the window) with a hair dryer, will it make the air inside expand enough that the suction releases and it falls off?
@@JoshTavares I've heard a few rumors that just running the window defroster for a few minutes is enough to break the seal.
"Get a window tint, put it on the outside, then peel it off and take their barnacles... keep doing this till they're bankrupt..."
cordless drill
I can't imagine it would take more than a minute to punch a hole with a cordless drill and release the vacuum.
We have unscrupulous parking companies here in UK but drivers tend to boycott them after a while. I’m shocked at how much it costs to park in the US for a couple of hours and also the charge to take the boot off! It’s extortion at its worst 😮
this is the exception rather than the rule. In the major cities such as downtown can cost you an arm and a leg, but for the rest of the country MOST business have a free parking lot for your use. Heck, I was able to park for pretty cheap in D.C. when I went to a concert, and I didnt have to pay for parking next to where I was staying.
USA is the worse
But, no one is forced to park in those lots. Everyone knows if your parking meter runs out you could get a ticket. Why would a sign have to be posted saying so? Why aren't there signs out there that says 'don't murder people' or 'don't steal cars'?
Sounds like a great way to cost them a ton of money. Intentionally park there and stay long enough for them to barnacle the car, break its suction and take the barnacle with you, drive back to the lot and do it again until they run out of equipment. Might even be able to sell the barnacle back to them at cutthroat prices.
The only problem is that you'd still be racking up the parking fines themselves, which might get sent to collections at some point.
Stick to the rules and you won't get booted. Exercise agency and common sense. Drivers who get fines for staying parked longer than they should aren't exactly blameless.
$7 for 2 hours? Then they disable your vehicle for being 3 minutes over. What kind of highway robbery is this?
I've seen one of those get taken off. Use one of those air bladders that locksmiths use to pry car doors open with, then you can have enough leverage to work the suction cup away. The catch is that it sends notifications when you tamper with it and it has an alarm, so you gotta chuck it and get outta there fast.
Actually you should set a trap up for these, put a coating on your windshield and prove that the suction cup damaged it, then purchase a new windshield to replace it from a really expensive dealership, you'll win in court and drop the full value of the windshield replacement + the shop fees they will be required to pay 2-3 grand depending on how scummy the shop is and keep doing this with different cars until they learn their lesson.
good, send an alarm, by the time they get there, im either gone or sitting there waiting to give them back their broken toy
Sounds like no one should use the lot at all.
Sounds to me like you are one of these people who would never pay and expect to not get ticketed because you do not think police would ever come on private property to ticket a vehicle.
@@josephhodges9819 Ew, I smell a skinhead
@@josephhodges9819 That's what it sounds like to YOU.
That would be the only working solution to immediately stop it. Unfortunately, like in most scenarios, it probably is a necessity because of parking shortages and you know people aren't going to inconvenience themselves to hit back where it hurts. lol
@Habu71 a $450 fine to a private company for staying in the parking lot five minutes over what you paid for?... You're not seriously advocating for that are you? 🤡
that tow owner's response says everything you need to know. our society sucks how it forces everyone to screw someone over just to find success.
She wasn't forced to do this to find success. She chose this course of action.
Most of us will find success and do so honestly and honorably.
greed and corruption the engine and fuel that drives everything in the world today
Typical high yellow behavior
Who forced her to be greedy and immoral? SHE OWNS HER OWN COMPANY!!! Sounds pretty successful but she CHOSE to take advantage of people to get more
It is nothing but stealing.
These can be disabled and removed with a paperclip. Piercing the seam it takes roughly 3 minute before you can remove the barnacle. The other way is to pierce the membrane on the outside.
We had exactly the same situation in Australia, but with wheel clamps. They weren't legal to use, but there wasn't a specific law making them illegal to use, so it kept tying up the courts with complaints. Eventually, a specific law was added that bans the use of wheel clamps and other similar devices except on our own vehicles to deter theft.
And here I am living in an "underdeveloped" country without having these problems. Private parking lots have barriers that can only be opened by inserting a paid ticket into the reader. Payment is made before leaving the parking lot so you pay in full for the time you were there.
It seems incredible to me that in the USA, a "first world" country, there is so much illegal crap like this.
It's less difficult to understand if you consider this:
The entire country is set up to syphon wealth upwards from the poorest, to the richest. There are often a lot of stops along the way for that money, but ultimately, ot all goes to the top. And, while the system wasn't designed to be that way originally, it has been heavily modified to function that way.
@@TheYuleTube In your opinion of course, I don't suppose you have any hard evidence to support your claim?
undeveloped? your ticket reader used electricity. you have cars, gas stations to fill up the cars. you have infrastructure to support the gas station to fuel your car to park at a lot with a reader. hmmm undeveloped my ass. your brain is the only thing undeveloped.
@@smedleyfarnsworth263eyeroll
This isn't a first world country. This is Philadelphia.
If the lot was just interested in getting paid for the amount of time you parked all they would need is a return ticket that clocks out your payment card when you pull out. It is done that way other places. It's a scam and outrages.
That is how it is often done at other locations. But this parking lot owner knows it can make a lot more money with their fines.
Thats how most paid parking spaces work here in Australia. you stop at a boom gate as you go in, and you take a ticket to gain entry. then when you leave, you go to a machine, insert your ticket, it works out your fee and you pay, then you leave, stopping at another boom gate at the exit. you pop your ticket in there and it lets you out. alternatively, most places let you tap your debit/credit card on entry and exit.
@@catey62every shopping mall or airport I've ever seen has this kind of set up, at least the ticket on timer if not a card upfront.
That's a weird way to spell "outrageous"
You must not live on the East Coast. We always have to prepay for time, then hope we don't go past what we pay. The idea is to get people to pay for more time than they need. Parking lots are more profitable by square footage than almost any other business.@@Nope_handlesaretrash
I wonder if they have a way to track the devices. Cause someone has bound to have tried to drive off with them to be removed later at home.
Nothing a bridge, lake, pond or river can't fix.
The 6th Circuit ruled in 2021 that tire chalking was illegal. Now if a city cannot touch your car, why can anyone else do this.
Rain-x or aquapel or other treatments meant to make glass slick will pose a problem to the barnacle. Then like others said, apply full heat to the glass to soften the rubber on the suction cups and even a small knife can break the seal. Once that’s done dispose of the barnacle either on railroad tracks or in a nearby body of water.
How exactly do you get under the 20cm or so of yellow plastic to get to the suction cup? Did you not see what it looks like from inside the car? The suction cup is a long way inside the yellow housing to stop people from just slipping something thin under the suction cup.
@@teeanahera8949 Someone said in another comment there are youtube videos of people getting them off the car, but who has time for that for 15 minutes over a meter??? No wonder there is so much violence in the world, with so many people actively working to ruin your day or your life.
Thin metal break under the side vacuum breaks seal it should come off
Wait by the car and stop them from vandalizing the car.
@@teeanahera8949Get a long thin metal ruler and keep it in your car. Slide it under and pop the seal.
a couple of well-placed drill holes and this device is no longer an issue.
Or - here's a thought - you have moving barriers at the entry/exit, receive a timestamped ticket to enter, and then when you want to leave, you are charged according to how long you were there.
That costs money and investment on their part. Extortion is cheaper to operate.
That's ridiculous, I'm surprised Chicago isn't doing this
If you have an older car without a center console you can drive just fine from the passenger side. I did it in the 60's in my 57 Chevy when the driver's side windshield wiper failed in heavy rain. And it was a stick shift. You get to keep the barnacle too. And yes, a drill bit through the suction cup will work without scratching the windshield.
Yea, they would be sorry if they put that think on my car. Take the battery too. You can take them apart and use them in your tools
yup and you think they just leave them with no other documentation? It is simple to run your tag at the dmv and then send you the ticket in the mail for the full amount of 475.00. Like the "tough guy" you are, you will ignore it. Then you will be summoned to court where not only will you be fined the 475.00 for the parking fine and theft of property but you will also get to pay court costs. So go right ahead and damage/destroy the item. In the end it costs you more...
Only problem is the alarm that starts up when it senses the car moving, and GPS tracker. Still unless its a city boot it doesn't matter, private parking matters is a civil dispute, and once you're off the lot if they try to tow you its grand theft auto.
@your a serious idiot and you need serious professional help
@ The lady who owns the company said he was free to drive his car away, and she said that on camera after being told she was being recorded for broadcast. Besides, the company isn't authorized by the city to be doing this, they can't issue a ticket. Once they leave the lot, they can't tow the vehicle either.
Companies like this take advantage of the fact most people won't try to fight it, because they operate on very shaky legal grounds. They know they'll get forced out eventually, so they use predatory tactics to make as much money as possible until the slow government system actually does something about it.
3:10 you're exactly right. A SCHEME A HUSTLE.
It is a hustle by technicality. The vehicle is not immobilized, not towed, but the vehicle owner wouldnt risk driving with it if they want to assume liability of any collision, tampering with it is a risk of damage to the barnicke or your windshield.The company actually charge a deposit on it & the fine😂😂😂😂. Philadelphia Parking Authority has more POWER, they dont need police... if your vehicle is on the boot & tow list your car is gone😢
Another reason why those big car garages with high ass parking prices is worth it.. Just to avoid thid bullshit...I mean you go to your car, you want to drive away😅
No $175 for just 15 minutes over the limit that’s crazy
A little shim under that suction cup should work well.
I’ve seen people drive off with their tire booted, and they would rather destroy their vehicle, then to just pay the fines.. so there’s no doubt people will still be trying to drive with these things on their windshield!
and when they go to court ans take the stand and testify they never say the bus, the jury will have to say yep he didn't. Not guilty.
Drive it Ace Ventura style.
These “legal” barnacle criminals should be arrested and put out of business. They know exactly what they’re doing and knowing how to steal money!
Technically you are stealing money by being late to pick up your car.
Just another form of loan sharking 🦈 . LoL 😂
In the city of brotherly love. Or love ripping off your brother
I would drive with it on and pay to have a window put on. Just to spite these useless people
What a greedy company. They are not operating within the law and they know it. The nerve of the person on the phone actually saying the car is safe to drive is absurd.
@@Detroittruckdoctor55 Use battery powered drill or similar device to break the seal to release it (unless you can just slide a knife underneath). If you can't exit on your past due stub, buy another for the minimal time and exit on it.
It's the same style of suction cup that glass companies use to help carry large heavy pieces of glass. All you have to do is shove something either against or under the rim to break the seal, any small cut to the outside edge will break the seal.
I normally don't recommend destroying other people property but if they are doing this illegally just use a sharp object like a single edge razor blade and make a couple of slices in the suction cup it will disable that barnacle permanently the cup will have to be replaced.
If it becomes more expensive to have to repair the device than they make off it they will quit using them.
I hope those that were barnacled sue the heck out of the companies doing this. The reporter says via statute these are illegal. It'd be great to see a report that the companies doing this were forced to close up shop. This is taking advantage of people when times are already tight for most of us.
So, it being illegal by statute, removing them isn't necessarily a crime. I suppose, as long as you don't damage the device, that is.
@@calanon534 Wrong. That is still somebody else's property and knowing the legal system your ass would be prosecuted for vandalism.
Sooo being a person who worked for a company that issues these, typically you only get one after you have racked up a bunch of tickets. It's fine if you remove it, but you'll also have to pay the extra fees if you damaged it trying to get it off. You don't really have the right to sue if signs are telling you that you have to pay to park. I've never seen someone get a barnacle after being a few minutes late, but some places definitely tow if you're not supposed to park there. Which is the same difference
@@qualxmassacre If you watched this video, you literally just saw someone's car get barnacled with in minutes of their time expiring in the lot. And FYI, not being a wise guy here, but anyone can sue anyone for anything, any time. It's a shame that's how it is because it wastes a lot of the court system's time, but that's the way we roll here in America. LOL Have a nice weekend.
@@NiaLaLa_V Are you an idiot? Do you really think it's not vandalism to disable someone's car? Unless the thing attached to the car was placed there by authorities, you can do whatever you like with it. No one has the right to attach anything to your car without your permission, aside from the government. Seems the spirit of the Lincoln Park Pirates is still alive.
In New Zealand they cannot force you to pay a fine as they are not an enforcement body - Police are. They can only charge you for the additional time you spent in the parking lot plus reasonable admin charges. In one case recently where a friend overstayed they had to pay NZ$30 (around US$20).
The law is pretty much the same here. In fact, the law quoted in the report clearly makes the barnacle an illegal device attempting to flout the city law against such activity.. The company is about to find out that thumbing your nose openly at authorities which can regulate you out of existence is a bad business move.
That sounds like a fair and honest way to do it,$175 is ridiculous.
Yep and I bet they also post those charges at or near the pay terminals so customers know what to expect.
Also, clamp fines in NZ are capped at $100NZD
They don’t do this in America because that’s playing fair
I'm surprised that nobody in these comments seems to have pointed this out yet, but it's not a $175 fine to regain legal road use of your vehicle - it's a $500+ fine, with a $300+ refund for returning the undamaged barnacle to the company. As someone who makes minimum wage for a less than 30-hour week, I can tell you that there is a HUMUNGOUS difference between the two!
It is a suction cup on glass.
Suction cups on glass fail often enough that I never trusted them when carrying glass panes, just for setting it in the opening.
Tow companies have always been predatory
A tow truck driver extorted my cousin. Told my cousin to give him $40 and he won't tow the car or it'll be towed and cost him a lot more. I told my cousin to sit in his car next time and call the police. It's theft.
A single 1/4" drill bit in the center will make that suction stop existing. If they vandalize your car, you have every reason to remove that so you can use your property. Or just dont park where a predatory company is using these.
Even better idea, install a windshield cover thats strapped through your locked door. So they wont be able to get to the windshield without destruction of property, and leave your dash cam running.
You can tell she is fully aware of how predatory this is, and that she does not care, by the tone in her voice when she says "Of course you can (drive)". She not only is a predatory person, but she can now legally be held accountable for ANY and ALL accidents that incur as a result of these barnacles from her lot; AND if anyone is pulled over, she is ALSO legally liable for the incurred tickets, fines, and court costs associated.
Because SHE just claimed you are fully able to drive around with this barnacle attached to your windshield, right in front of the driver.
Notice: The owner of this vehicle, not responsible for any damage to unlawful items attached hereon. (Put this sticker on windshield)
Good news. If the barnacle is not approved by city ordinances, the device is relatively easy to remove with a thin tool under the suction cup
I suspect ease of removal is the same whether or not approved by city ordinance.
@@Graham_Wideman I’m sure it is, but the bill you receive may not be.
Keep appropriate tools in the car just in case. I live out in the country and we don't have this kind of thing at all.
Expired paking meter fines are up from $6 to an amazing $45 in some cities. $175 is insane. I would remove the device then throw it through the front window of the towing company. This psycho woman says, "You are free to go" when there is a huge obstruction on your windscreen, which is also illegal. Psycho!
Not even $175. It’s $475. That’s literally more money than 66% of Americans have in their savings. Who cares if you get $300 back when the majority of people can’t afford the initial cost.
I'm thinking some enterprising folk will work out how to have the panel get a new code to release, every time it locks on, then bond a bunch of such devices to the towing companies tow truck windscreens.
It would be totally illegal to pour gasoline into the "Barnacle Drop box" and set it on fire on purpose. Just like it would be illegal to drive with your view blocked by the barnacle if it is still attached to the vehicle.
I'd go out of my way to take those plastic covers off, and not pay their BS fines, breaking the suction isn't hard to do. FIGHT THE POWER!!!!
Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, treats its citizens like any brother would treat his brother... when they are 13 years old...
That lady on the phone for the towing company sounded like a villain from a super hero movie.
It’s clear the whole thing is basically a scam!
Look who owns the company doing it....take them off yourself, it's not illegal. They arent legal to use anyways. You can take them off yourself and take them with you. Then the owner is out thousands on each one.
I'm not sure what you mean by look who owns the company? Pay the fee you're supposed to be paying for the time you said you were going to be there. And you won't have an issue. If you don't want to pay the parking? Take the bus...🚌
@@WALTERBROADDUSOh heck no! it shouldn’t cost you hundreds of dollars and an asinine amount of extra time for just going over a few minutes of parking. Sure, extra time should be paid, but you cannot always predict how long you will be parked somewhere, and you shouldn’t be PUNISHED to this degree for being a FEW MINUTES late.
Someone could be at the doctor office and it took a few extra minutes. I would have someone to remove. If the city didn't give them the authority do put that crap on cars, I would definitely follow up with a lawsuit. Simple as that.
@@WALTERBROADDUSpunishment should fit the crime, $150 for going 2 min over in a $3.50/h parking lot and you find that acceptable? Something is severely wrong with your sense of morality.
@@WALTERBROADDUSI’m quite sure you are the most punctual fella in the history of a people who can’t and won’t be on time. Ever heard of CPT? Don’t be so hyper emotional Walter.
The city wants a piece of the profit, that is the city's biggest concern.
Boycot those businesses until the problem is resolved.
We had a similar situation in my hometown. Some guy just decided that he was gonna start clamping peoples cars. He had no authorization. It was really insane.
Sue, sometimes you just have to sue the crap out of them.
Decades ago they tried it on my dads work truck. He used the gas axe (cutting torch) on it.
had something similar happen where i use to work i use to valet work and the company i worked for on top of the normal contracts with hotels, clubs ect they also owned a bunch of paid parking lots. one of them was monthly parking where you bought a pass however there were a few spots that were for daily. well the monthly people didnt have a ticket or pass in their car basically it was all digital, the company had your plate and they would have a guy ride threw with a license plate reader and it would match with the system. if they didnt they would check for the ticket. we had a company start coming into our lot with no contract or permission and would just start booting every car without a ticket. took the company about 2 days to find out and catch the guy. sued the fuck out of them and forced the guys company into bankruptcy
Circular lockpicks fix most boot problems.
@@vengeance1So does an 18V angle grinder.
At the very least, predatory businesses ought to be directed to pay back all of the fines that they benefited from through preying upon their victims. It is heartening to see politicians working on protecting citizens. ⚖️
Plus interest due to time without said funds.
The business needs to be shuttered by the municipality until these issues can be fully investigated, should take a couple dozen years.
$400, just rent a uhal trailer, and tow your car home. Now you don't even have to return it.
x 100
Why do people put the "barnacle" back in that return bin? Seems like if those were all disappearing, they'd have to stop this illegal practice.
The return box adds insult to injury.
Great idea! Let's cause more problems for people and just imagine this happening to the wrong one who decides to F around and find out!
That's not a particularly smart idea. And it would just be a lot simpler and cheaper to park someplace else.
@@WALTERBROADDUS
lol that is surely obvious! 👌
They should just tow the vehicles and then you can pay a $500 freedom fund fee to free your car from the impound lot
especially in Philly
These should be done away with
I can't imagine why it's acceptable to seize an asset that's likley worth tens of thousands of dollars for failure to pay a tiny amount of parking charges.
Don't expect logical consistency or coherence from urbanites.
If they had any intelligence they wouldnt be living in an urban shit hole.
We can't drive with this on our windshield...
Sure you can😂😂😂
This lady watched too many episodes of "Parking Wars," and thought to herself "I could be like Sherry and Garfield!" but Sherry and Garfield would never go sticking some nonsense over someone's windshield in a private parking lot!
Can I legally keep these if they put one on my vehicle?
Yeah, but they will track you and then you will have to pay for the cost of it or do something else stupid.
How would you leave with it on your car and why would you want it?
@@uggycyvhvyvyv7322 to make them have to keep buying them, if everyone who gets one put on their windows refuses to pay gets it off and destroys it they will stop cause apparently they are expensive. i'd fill it with cement and use it as pavers in y garden.
@@uggycyvhvyvyv7322drive like ace ventura
I would, if they want it back, then pay me in cash or take me to Court.
When the lady said you're free to drive off, that's a cue for driving off, getting into an accident on purpose and suing them till they're bankrupt.
Especially as you explained at the start of your call that you were recording the conversation, and just neglected to note that your recording was going directly to the station, where lot's of lawyers would be watching, and be more than happy to assist motorists in such a predicament.
Someone needs to go to prison for this.
Same kind of people, same kind of antisocial behaviors.
Here's an idea: Remove it yourself, then sue for damages.
$175 for 15 minutes?????
That’s what I was thinking. It could have been an emergency and they get a hefty fine for something that may not have been in their control
Robbery With Our Hands Down
Her weave is not going to pay for itself!
@@stache1954Neither is yours. 👻👨🏻🦳👻
There should be a cap, or pay depending on how long you stay over. That fine is ridiculous.🤠
I bet if you drilled a hole in the right place the air pressure would equalize and break the vacuum seal and allow you to remove it. Then if you didn't return it. They would have to stop their unfair practice or continue to buy more window barnacles, in effect, fining them for their bad behavior.
a cracked windshield should let the air flow in as well.
@@robertsmith2956 Yes, but a crack windshield will cost more to replace than paying the ticket.
@@jimshreve83 Why would you replace it till they get rid of the things?
@@robertsmith2956 why would you intentionally crack your windshield? Plus the crack would be in your line of sight, windshield cracks tend to get larger over time. Also cracking your windshield doesn't deter the parking lot and tow companies from charging enormous fines for being 10 minutes late, or potentially endangering your life by delaying you if you need to get out of the if you need to.
@@jimshreve83 my insurance gives me a free windshield a year.......
Wow, that’s low. $175 for a car being in a space too long is crazy. Predatory for sure. How heartless.
"We can't drive of like this."
"Of course you can!"
I think the police would disrespectfully disagree, and so would someone's insurance provider when they inevitably got into an accident. Wildly dishonest.
Guaranteed somebody's gonna drive with that attached. You never seen idiots driving a car buried in a foot of snow?😂
If you put your own barnacle on the windshield, they can't put theirs on.
But a sharp object will screw up the seal and let you pull theirs off.
probably only cost you a few grand.
so you think that they just put these on a vehicle and walk away without documenting where it was put to include a plate number? You can take it off, if you can get it off and you will still get a ticket for the parking fine and most likely the barnacle. The report said it was 475.00. You can try to ignore the ticket and wind up in court where you will be found guilty and fined the 475.00 plus court costs. So now you are on the hook for 500.00 dollars or more. Not real bright in my opinion
@ Ctrl + V, Ctrl + V
@@trypwyre9024Yeah lol, the person keeps spamming that comment everywhere. 100% trolling.
Actually, if you do put something on your windshield that keeps barnacles from being placed,then you are golden
Almost $500 to get it removed for being 15 minutes late? That’s insane
This woman saying you can drive. Basically stating im keep your property until you pay a fee that city deem unfair.
Any long thin blade slid down the glass until it meets the rubber suction seal would pop the device off.
Then I’d make sure that the device was never found again.
*with me being the petty person that I am. I’d stick around and remove devices from other vehicles too.
After the shady company loses enough of the devices, I’m sure they’d change the policy.
Until they whip out video of you doing this and sue.
Removing them, then laying them on the ground....on their property is a whole different ballgame. It never left the lot, therefore it isn't stolen.
@@matt9c1It was attached to your vehicle against your will and without your permission; therefore it is a gift.
@@surlyogre1476 Good luck with that in court, the same court system where a burglar can sue (and win) a homeowner for getting hurt while breaking into their house.
@@surlyogre1476me thinks Matt invested in barnacling along with his nft's and beanie babies!😅
@ Wrong again. There is no ticketing from private lots. They cannot issue tickets. period. you keep posting this drivel everywhere, but its completely wrong. Private parking lots have lots all kinds of court cases for putting their private boots on cars, these are no different. They will lose if they take it to court.
A. Bob's is a terror on the streets , get 'em.