[Added 5-13-2026 by Ord. No. 2-2026]
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
BOOT, BOOTING or BOOTED
Means the act of immobilizing a motor vehicle in such a manner as to prevent its operation with a device or by means which shall cause no damage to such vehicle unless it is moved while such device is in place or such means are employed.
UNSETTLED PARKING VIOLATION
Means any outstanding violations of the parking, standing, or stopping regulations of the City of Chester Traffic Code or Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code[1] which remain outstanding and unpaid 30 days or more from the date of issuance.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 101 et seq.
A motor vehicle found parked within the City upon any public ground at any time may, at the direction of an officer or member of the City Police Department, be booted if there are three or more unsettled parking violations pending against the owner of the motor vehicle.
Upon booting of such motor vehicle, the officer, employee, or booting service shall cause to be placed on the vehicle, in a conspicuous manner, notice sufficient to warn any individual that the vehicle has been immobilized, and that any attempt to move the vehicle might result in damage to the vehicle. The notice shall also outline the procedure for obtaining removal of the boot. The officer, employee, or booting service shall, as soon as practicable, provide the owner of the booted vehicle, at his request, with a list of the prior unsettled parking violations for which, or on account of which, such vehicle was booted.
A. 
The owner of a booted vehicle, or other authorized person, shall be permitted to secure release of vehicle upon:
(1) 
Paying the amount of the fine, penalty and court costs, if any, for each unsettled parking violation; and
(2) 
The payment of the fee(s) as required by § 528-86.
B. 
The owner of a booted vehicle, or other authorized person, shall have the right to a post-immobilization hearing limited to the determination of the validity of the booting. Such hearing shall be requested within 15 days after the vehicle is booted and shall be conducted by a hearing officer or the alternate hearing officer to be appointed by the Mayor. The hearing shall be held during normal business hours within three business days of the demand therefor. The post-immobilization hearing shall not be determinative of or adjudicate the merits of any citation issued relative to any immobilized vehicle but shall be limited solely to whether the vehicle was properly subject to booting under the provisions of this article.
The boot shall remain in place for 72 hours unless the owner has complied with § 528-84. If such compliance has not occurred within 72 hours, the vehicle may be towed or impounded. If the booting occurs when a vehicle is parked in any zone regulated by towing provisions, then such vehicle is subject to immediate towing and impounding. Towing and storage fees, as set by administrative order, as specified in Article VI of this chapter, shall be paid, along with fees specified in §§ 528-84 and 528-86 before the owner of such vehicle, or authorized person, shall be permitted to repossess or secure the release of the vehicle. Vehicles unclaimed within 60 days of towing and storage shall be deemed abandoned and subject to disposal as such in the manner authorized by law.
The owner of a booted vehicle shall be subject to a fee established by resolution of Council, which may be amended from time to time. The fee established on the effective date of this article shall be $75 for any such immobilization.
This article shall be enforced by the Police Department which shall have authority for implementing the parking enforcement provisions thereof and to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary therefor, which regulations shall become effective upon approval by Council.
A Public Booting License is required for any booting company engaged in the business of booting vehicles at the request of the City from highways, public rights-of-way, public parking lots, sidewalks, and other public property in the City, which shall be licensed annually in accordance with the provisions of this section.
A. 
Application for license. Applications for Booting License shall be submitted to the Police Commissioner upon forms prepared and made available by the City. The application form(s) shall be properly completed, signed and accompanied by the application and license fee. The Police Commissioner shall review and inspect the required storage facility and towing equipment and all applications for compliance with the terms of this article and other applicable regulations.
B. 
Issuance of license(s). A booting license shall be issued only to booting companies that comply with the provisions of this article.
C. 
License fee. The public booting license fee under this article shall require payment of an original application fee, which is established by resolution of Council and may be updated from time to time. The public booting license fee established as of the effective date of this article shall be $200. These are non-refundable application fees. If the booting service is also applying for or already has been approved for a towing license there is no additional fee for a booting license.
D. 
All booting licenses, except those terminated for just cause as provided herein, are subject to an annual renewal fee of $100. This renewal fee shall be paid within the first quarter of each calendar year. If the booting service is also renewing a towing license there is no additional fee for the booting license.
Booting companies to be licensed under this article to boot vehicles at the request of the City shall maintain the following minimum requirements:
A. 
General equipment. Business and equipment shall be located within the City of Chester, Pennsylvania, unless approved in advance by the City of Chester. Only if the Police Commissioner deems there to be a need to allow more booting companies to provide services controlled by this article shall a booting company whose business is located outside the City of Chester be allowed to be licensed under this article. Vehicles must be plainly marked with the booting company's name, logo, and phone number. Booting company employees shall wear a uniform that plainly displays the company name and logo.
B. 
Advertising and contact information. Booting companies must be listed in a current published telephone directory or available through a common internet search. These listings must, at minimum, include the company name, business address, and a business telephone number that is personally answered 24 hours per day.
C. 
Insurance.
(1) 
Booting companies shall be required to carry insurance at the minimum policy limits as follows:
(a) 
Automobile liability insurance in an amount not less than $1,000,000, combined single limits.
(b) 
Workers' compensation insurance, as required by Statute.
(c) 
Miscellaneous coverage to provide complete protection to the City against any and all risks of loss or liability including comprehensive General Liability.
(2) 
The City shall be listed as an additional insured party on all policies and such policies shall contain a provision requiring notification to the City prior to any policy revision or termination. A copy of the policy shall be provided to the Police Commissioner.
D. 
Criminal record. No booting company owner or employee shall have any misdemeanor and/or felony criminal convictions for criminal violations that would be inconsistent with providing professional booting services. Specifically, no booting company owner or employee shall have any such conviction(s) for the following violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code:
Chapter 25 Criminal Homicide
Chapter 29 Kidnapping
Chapter 31 Sexual Offenses Section 3502 Burglary
Section 3921 Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition
Section 3922 Theft by Deception
Section 3925 Receiving Stolen Property
Section 4101 Forgery
Section 4104 Tampering with Records or Identification
Section 4107 Deceptive Business Practices
Section 4117 Insurance Fraud
E. 
Property, business privilege, mercantile, or municipal taxes and fees. No company shall receive a license or license renewal if the company has not paid its property taxes, mercantile taxes, or any other municipal fee as required under City of Chester Code of Ordinances.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to deprive any person of the constitutional right to a hearing or trial as to the violations for which citations have been issued.
It shall be a prohibited act for any booting company to:
A. 
Subcontract booting services requested by the City unless authorized in advance by the City.
B. 
Boot a vehicle on public property without authorization from the City or Police Department.
C. 
Boot a vehicle on private property in violation of the requirements of this article.
D. 
Use "Chester" in the name of the booting company.
E. 
Charge or provide a written quote or invoice or collect fees in excess of those specifically designated in this article.
F. 
Falsify any information regarding the application.
Within one hour from the time of booting of any vehicle by a licensed booting service, the City of Chester Police Department shall be notified, by providing the Police Department with a copy (or facsimile) of the written authorization and shall include the following information:
A. 
The make, model, color, and registration number.
B. 
State of registration.
C. 
Address where the vehicle was immobilized.
D. 
Date and time of immobilization.
E. 
Booting fee.
F. 
Name and 24-hour telephone number of the booting company.
G. 
Location where the vehicle may be claimed by the owner.
Any person who shall tamper with, remove or attempt to remove any device used to immobilize a motor vehicle that has been booted pursuant to this article, or who shall move or attempt to move the vehicle booted before release of the vehicle has been officially secured, shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000, together with cost of prosecution, or imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both.
If any provision of this article is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions which can be given effect without the invalid provision.