The Muncie Police Department will soon begin “booting” cars with outstanding parking fines due to the city.

Beginning on October 14, cars in Muncie with three outstanding parking tickets – or total fines of $100 or more – can be booted.  In many cities, this means police will attached a yellow or orange metal immobilizing clamp on one of the car’s wheels.

The city says to remove the boot, all outstanding fines have to be paid to the city within 24 hours.  Otherwise, the car “may be towed at the owner’s expense.”

Earlier this month, the Muncie City Council approved an increase of most parking fines to $30.  Only parking illegally in a handicap space or in a fire lane will cost more.

The Muncie Police Department has said $180,000 worth of parking tickets issued in Muncie over the last year-and-a-half haven’t ever been paid.  At a city council meeting in August, the department said just five Muncie drivers have a total of $10,000 in unpaid tickets.