Bill that would regulate Georgia's booting industry passes Senate
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The Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A bill that would add guardrails to how parking boot companies can operate in Georgia is another step closer to becoming law.
Why it matters: Booting is used by many property owners to limit who can park in their lots to keep that space free for their customers, but the industry has come under increased scrutiny in recent years over its tactics.
Driving the news: The State Senate passed House Bill 551 with an amendment offered by Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs) that would require booting companies to follow the same regulations as towing companies.
- It would prohibit booters from monitoring parking lots and ban "kickbacks," which are the fees booting companies pay to property owners for the right to boot vehicles from their lots.
- The bill passed unanimously out of the Senate and now goes back to the House for a final vote.
What they're saying: "Right now, booters can basically camp out in a parking lot, wait for somebody to walk into a store, and then three minutes later, throw a boot on their car," McLaurin told Axios.
- He also said the legislation doesn't prevent property owners from using booting services; it just prohibits companies from camping in lots and waiting for potential violators.
State of play: Unlike towing, which is regulated statewide, the booting industry is monitored via a patchwork of local ordinances approved by cities and counties.
- Atlanta's ordinance, which went into effect in 2018, requires property owners to create clear signs about the parking policy, caps fines at $75, and provides clear identification for representatives of booting companies.
Flashback: The business of booting received fresh scrutiny when the Boot Girls in Buckhead began advertising their services to remove boots from vehicles.
Yes, but: Removing a boot from a vehicle without paying the booting company for that service can lead to confrontations that can quickly turn dicey.
- In 2023, the Boot Girls shared a video showing a man placing his foot on a boot and threatening to call the police while one of the women was trying to remove it from a car.
- Atlanta police previously said it does not get involved with booting unless a criminal issue happens.
- Owning a boot key isn't illegal, but Atlanta police said a person could be charged with criminal trespass, theft of service, theft by taking or damage to property if they use a boot key to remove an immobilization device.
What we're watching: With Sine Die (the end of the legislative session) just a few days away, McLaurin said he's confident there are "a lot of House Republicans" who would support the regulations.
- "It's just a question of whether the booting industry can make one final effort here with the House of Representatives or (with) the governor to try to stop this basic regulation from becoming law," he said.