I concur with Ryan Montgomery (Letters, Herald, June 12): Booting a vehicle over a single parking ticket is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure. There are all sorts of reasons why a driver might not even be aware they had received a ticket – the wind blew it off or a passerby took it from under the windshield wiper, leaving someone completely unaware of an outstanding violation. Or perhaps someone has a family emergency and must leave town to care for someone – and a $12 parking ticket goes unpaid until the crisis is resolved.
It is simply unreasonable to boot this or anyone else’s car unless they have clearly demonstrated a willful violation of parking ordinances repeatedly – say six or more unpaid violations. What has gone so wrong in Durango city government that it would even consider such Gestapo-style parking enforcement?
Wade Nelson
Arboles
