The City Sheriff or Marshal boots vehicles that owe more than $350 of parking ticket and/or camera violation judgment debt. If you owe more than $350 in judgment debt, any vehicle registered to you can be booted, even if that is not the vehicle which received the tickets initially.

This boot is a green metal clamping device with a keypad. The boot is attached to one of the four wheels to prevent the vehicle from moving.

When a vehicle is booted, a notice will be placed under the windshield wiper on the driver's side and on the driver's door window.

If your vehicle is booted, you must pay your judgment debt, interest and fees along with the booting fees online at www.nycbootpay.com,by phone or in person. Your registration and insurance must be up to date before you make a payment.

If you don’t pay within 48 hours of being booted (excluding weekends and holidays), the vehicle will be towed. You will be responsible for both booting and towing fees, if your vehicle is booted and then towed.

Learn more about the vehicle booting program.

Boots

The New York Police Department (NYPD) boots illegally parked vehicles in Manhattan. NYPD boots may be yellow or blue and do not have a keypad.

All vehicles booted by the NYPD are subject to immediate tow.

Barnacles

The NYPD has recently implemented limited use of the Barnacle, an immobilization device attached to a motorist’s windshield that prevents the practical operation of the vehicle. Similar to a vehicle boot, the Barnacle can be applied to illegally parked vehicles.  

The Barnacle could be applied for the following parking violations:

• at a bus stop
• in bike lanes
• on a sidewalk
• hydrants (illegal to park within 15 feet of either side of a fire hydrant)

The Barnacle features a label that provides instructions for payment and removal of the device. They are orange and weigh 16 pounds.

It costs $185 to remove the Barnacle by paying at the respective tow pound within two hours. If you don't pay within two hours of the Barnacle being applied on the car, then the car is towed.  

When the cost of removing the Barnacle is paid, then a traffic agent is assigned to respond and remove it when the motorist is back in the car. The fees are paid to the NYPD who then sends it to Department of Finance (DOF).  They would be responsible for the tow or removal fee plus the violation that caused the boot/barnacle.

When the Barnacle is disarmed, you must deliver it to one of the various drop-off locations listed on the label.

If your vehicle is parked in an illegal spot and gets booted, your vehicle may be towed at any time.  

Illegal parking includes vehicles parked:

• At a bus stop
• In a no standing zone
• In a no stopping zone
• On the sidewalk
• In a crosswalk 
• Blocking a pedestrian ramp
• At a hydrant
• Double parked
• Blocking a driveway

You should look at the boot to determine why you have been booted. 

• If the boot has keypad, you have been booted by the sheriff/marshal for owing the City more than $350 in parking ticket or camera violations that are in judgment. You should follow the instructions provided and call the Booting Program to pay your judgment debt. If you are illegally parked and you don’t pay immediately, your vehicle will be towed. There is no 48-hour window for vehicles parked in violation of public safety regulations. You may still make a payment to release the boot, but if a tow truck has been dispatched already, a tow dispatch fee will be added to the total.
• If the boot doesn’t have a keypad, you have been booted by the NYPD for illegal parking. The NYPD has the authority to tow your vehicle even if you don’t owe any outstanding tickets.

Reporting Booted Vehicles Parked Illegally

The fees for booting are:

• $142 booting fee
• $80 for the Sheriff/Marshal execution fee
• 5% of the total amount of all other fines and fees

You must also pay your judgment debt.

If you don't return the boot within 24 hours of the time that you call the Booting Program, a late fee of $25 per day up to a maximum of $500 for 20 days will also be charged.

Damaged Boot Fees

If the boot on your vehicle is damaged, you may be charged a $500 replacement fee. And you may be prosecuted for the crime of property destruction.
A damaged boot may also result in damage to your tire or vehicle.

The booting fee is $185, plus any fines, penalties, and interest for parking and camera violations in judgment.

You do not have to pay the violation that caused your vehicle to be booted and/or towed by the NYPD to retrieve your vehicle. You have 30 days from the date of the violation to pay or dispute that ticket. After 30 days penalties will be applied.

Follow the instructions on the notice of violation placed on your vehicle's windshield.

Tow Pound Closure

The Manhattan tow pound at Pier 76 at West 38th Street and 12th Avenue is permanently closed and being relocated.

• Vehicles towed in Manhattan north of 59th Street are stored at the Bronx tow pound.
• Vehicles towed in Manhattan south of 59th Street are stored at the Brooklyn tow pound.

Go to the Towed Vehicle Reclaim from NYPD page, for more information.

Your registration and insurance must be up to date before you make a payment.

If you have expired or suspended registration you must take the following actions:

• Expired Registration
  • If your registration is expired, visit a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to renew your registration. To find a DMV office, go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) page.
• Suspended Registration Due to Insurance Lapse
  • If your registration has been suspended due to an insurance lapse (failure to make timely insurance payments), you must first contact your insurance company to make sure that your payment was received and that your insurance is still valid. Then take your insurance card to a DMV office so that they can update your information and lift the suspension.
• Suspended Registration Due to Nonpayment of Tolls
  • If your registration is suspended due to nonpayment of tolls (Port Authority or MTA Bridges & Tunnels), you must first visit an E- ZPass office and pay the tolls. Then take the receipt to a DMV office to lift your suspension. To find an E-ZPass office go to the E-ZPass page.

Removing a Boot

To get the release code to remove the boot, you must pay your judgment debt, interest, and fees along with the booting fees.

Online

If you have been booted or towed you can pay your judgment debt, booting fees, and other charges online. You must pay the full amount owed. After paying you will receive removal instructions. You can pay online by debit or credit card only.

Visit www.nycbootpay.com to pay online and receive removal instructions for the boot.

By Phone

Call the telephone number for the Booting Program that’s on the notice. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can pay by credit or debit card, electronic check, or pre-paid card with a credit card logo. If the name on the credit card does not match the name of the registered owner of the vehicle, the card holder has to submit a photo of their driver’s license or other government ID matching the name on the credit card.

After paying, you will be given a release number to enter into the keypad on the boot. You will then be able to take it off.

If the code you were given doesn’t release the boot, call the booting program back to confirm your information, such as the location of your booted vehicle or the release code.

Once you have paid the total judgment debt and all fees and have removed the boot, you must take the boot within 24 hours to a return location. If you don't return the boot on time, you can be charged $25 a day in late fees, up to a maximum of $500 for 20 days.

If you can't return the boot within 24 hours, you should call the toll-free number on the notice to schedule a return time. For an additional $25 fee, you can make arrangements to have the boot picked up at a location designated by you.

You can request a hearing for your parking and camera violations that have been in judgment less than one year. You should visit any DOF Business Center and request an in-person hearing. Any judgment violations that are paid are not eligible for a hearing.

To learn more about disputing a parking or camera violation, use the Parking Ticket or Camera Violation Dispute page.

If your vehicle was booted or towed by NYPD you have 30 days from the date of the violation to request a hearing. If the ticket that led to your vehicle being booted or towed is dismissed you can request a refund of the tow fee. 
 
To learn more about disputing a parking or camera violation, use the Parking Ticket or Camera Violation Dispute page.

You may be eligible to set up a payment plan so you can make a series of smaller payments over time instead of paying the full amount all at once.

You must pay 20% of your judgement debt and all of the booting and towing fees and redeem your vehicle within 48 hours.

To learn more about payment plans, visit the Parking Ticket or Camera Violation Payment Plan page.

If you don’t pay within 48 hours of being booted (excluding weekends and holidays), the vehicle may be towed. You will be responsible for both booting and towing fees, if your vehicle is booted and then towed.

Your vehicle will be marked for an immediate tow by if:

• Your vehicle has been booted while parked in a bus stop, No Standing/No Stopping zone, in front of a hydrant, double parked, or other public safety violations, or
• You owe more than $2,500 parking judgment debt
• Your vehicle was previously booted and the boot was removed illegally

Once the tow company has been notified to have a vehicle towed, a $70 to dispatch fee will be added, even if you pay the entire amount owed and the tow truck hasn't arrived at the location.

Online

If you have been booted or towed you can pay your judgment debt, booting fees, and other charges online. You must pay the full amount owed. After paying you will receive removal instructions. You can pay online by debit or credit card only.

Visit www.nycbootpay.com to pay online and receive removal instructions for the boot.

By Phone

You may receive a courtesy email from DOF if you have previously paid a ticket for a vehicle with nearly $350 in unpaid parking or camera summons judgment debt.

The email warns you to take action to avoid having your vehicle booted or towed by paying or disputing the violations that are in judgment or may enter judgement within the next two weeks.

The email lists the license plates of the vehicles with the judgment debt, but any vehicles registered to the same owner are subject to booting or towing, even if they aren't listed on the email or don't have any judgment debt.

You can contact the Booting Program if you have any questions or issues, including if:

• You’ve waited more than 6 hours for a support officer to come to remove the boot
• The code you were given doesn’t release the boot
• You can’t return the boot within 24 hours after paying to release it and want to schedule a return time
• For an additional fee, you can make arrangements to have the boot picked up at a location designated by you.

If you paid the Department of Finance before the boot was applied, but your payment has not yet been posted, you must either call the booting program, or go to a DOF Business Center with your proof.