Fox Lake looks to boot parking scofflaws

Fox Lake residents who routinely ignore local vehicle ordinances could wake up and see a wheel clamp attached to their car.

Police Chief Mike Behan said the new village board guidelines approved last week allow for a car or truck to be immobilized, such as with the Denver boot, after its owner receives 10 vehicle-related tickets, such as for not having a vehicle sticker.

In addition to being immobilized, the vehicle could be towed away at the owner's expense.

"This is a way to enforce current laws that have been on the books specifically to stop people from leaving abandoned cars on their property," he said. "Under the old ordinance, we could write a ticket for cars that do not have a vehicle sticker. But aside from writing that ticket over and over, we were limited in what we could do."

Behan said abandoned cars are classified as vehicles that are parked for extended periods of time and do not have proper registration and insurance.

The village will first issue a warning letter through certified mail to a person in danger of having the clamp placed on their vehicle, he said. If no action is taken within 72 hours, the boot would be installed.

The owner would have another 72 hours to address the problem before the vehicle would be towed and stored at the expense of its owner.

"This is all geared specifically to clean up the village and get rid of some of these abandoned cars," Behan said. "And, to be clear, it's specific to vehicles. It has nothing to do with lawns and houses and what not."

Fox Lake's guidelines mirrors those in place in Wauconda and Mundelein, he said, and is designed to prevent vehicles from becoming an "eyesore."

"There has to be something in place to get people to take care of some of these abandoned cars," Behan said. "I hope we never have to use this at all. But, in case we do, it's there if we need it."