'The boot' gets the boot in London

LONDON, June 28 (UPI) -- Officials say the dreaded "boot," a metal clamping device attached to the wheels of illegally parked cars, has been all but phased out in central London.

The devices, when attached to a car's wheel by parking enforcement officers, render vehicles immobile, and ticketed drivers must pay not only for the original violation but also to have the boot removed. But as part of major reform in its parking laws, the Westminster area of London has officially booted the boots from the streets, The Times of London reported Saturday.

The Westminster Council Friday became the first local government authority in Britain to do away with the boots, and in so doing may be setting a precedent for others. The newspaper said Westminster was also one of the London councils to pioneer clamping more than 25 years ago, but in the last three years has employed booting 70 percent less often.

Danny Chalkley, a Westminster councilor, told the British newspaper it was "much fairer" to hand out parking tickets rather than use the boot, which he said has little deterrent effect.

"Without doubt," he said, "it's the most hated parking enforcement technique."

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