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Fredericksburg Parking Enforcement Officer Tod Runyon keys in information after the PayLock system signals that the vehicle's license plate shows that the owner has unpaid parking fees or taxes.
After a car's owner is linked to unpaid fines or overdue taxes
A minimal fine owed can trigger the mobile PayLock system to investigate whether other taxes and fines are due.
City Parking Enforcement Officer Tod Runyon carries a 'Smartboot' and a window sticker to a car whose owner owes |
There are sounds reminiscent of a video game coming from Tod Runyon's dashboard, as the white boxes on the top of his old unmarked police car scan the license plates of cars in Fredericksburg.
The beeps and blasts tell Runyon that the scanner has spotted the vehicle of a delinquent taxpayer.
He is quick to "boot" it.
Runyon is operating the newly installed "Smartboot," a license plate recognition system used to find delinquent taxpayers in public and residential areas.
While the "Smartboot" system is used in many areas for parking enforcement, the city treasurer's office is the first locality to use the system to collect unpaid personal property taxes. "Smartboot" will also be used in Fredericksburg to catch scofflaws with three or more unpaid parking tickets.
Since its trial run from June to mid-October, "Smartboot" has booted 280 cars and collected more than $60,000 of tax money. By comparison, the treasurer's office collected $14,600 last year.
According to G.M. Haney, Fredericksburg's treasurer, about 1 percent of personal property and real estate taxes remain unpaid every year.
Haney said that the "Smartboot" system was installed not to punish, but to promote adherence.
"We're looking for compliance, not money," Haney said. "If delinquents don't pay, then good taxpayers have to pay more."
Haney said booting cars is a last resort. People whose cars get booted owe at least $75 in unpaid taxes and have been warned by mail or phone three or four times.
The City Council approved $45,000 in extra funding for "Smartboot" on Oct. 14. Haney projects that "Smartboot" will bring in at least $85,000 in collections by the end of the year.
The "Smartboot" system was created by PayLock, a parking enforcement company based in New Jersey. PayLock provides similar booting and license plate recognition systems in 11 counties nationwide, including Richmond and Prince George's County, Md.
Bart Blair, director of account management for PayLock, said that even though "Smartboot" is operated through the treasurer's office, the police department will appreciate the efforts to collect fines on scofflaws.
"The collection rate will go up and people will take tickets more seriously," Blair said. "Police officers will feel less like they're throwing away paper."
Runyon, who runs "Smartboot" for the treasurer's office part time, also operates "AutoChalk," a similar scanning and photography system used by the police to cite parking violators.
In August, "AutoChalk" received an achievement award from the Virginia Municipal League for increasing the city's revenue from parking tickets by about 50 percent.
Runyon said that "Smartboot" has made booting easier both for himself and those booted. The "Smartboot" weighs less than 15 pounds, compared to the 40-pound boots Runyon has used in the past.
Instead of calling for a city employee to unlock the boot, the "Smartboot" can be unlocked by typing a code on the keypad, instead of the traditional ratchet and padlock used before. When a person is booted, a sticker with an 800 phone number is placed on their window. Upon calling the 800 number, a person may pay their fees with a credit card over the telephone to receive the code to unlock the boot. The boot must be returned to Merryman's Service Center the following day, or the credit card account given will be charged with late fees.
Runyon said that he has gotten mostly positive feedback from the community about the increase in car boots.
"Everyone I've spoken to has been supportive " Runyon said. "Never have I had anyone respond negatively well, except for those who get booted."
Susannah Clark: 540/374-5000, ext. 5617
Email: sclark@freelancestar.com
