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Nassau County, NY, has boot and tow laws just like the rest of the state. But these laws aren’t quite the same as you might expect. Things work a little differently in Nassau County than they do in New York City. This article will help you better understand what these laws mean for you and how you can avoid costly legal mistakes.

What Is a Boot on a Car?

When we say “boot,” we’re not talking about fashion. Boots on cars are heavy, metal devices that clamp onto a vehicle’s wheel. Their purpose is to prevent the vehicle from being driven, making sure that that wheel is incapable of rotating.

Boots are incredibly difficult (and illegal) to remove from a vehicle, making them an excellent tool for disabling vehicles. They can be applied quickly with minimal effort on the part of parking enforcement agents, who can be gone in a flash. In many cases, boots can seem to appear out of thin air, with drivers leaving their vehicle, going into a store, and coming back moments later to find one on their wheel.

When Do You Get a Boot in Nassau County?

Not all parking tickets result in a boot, but all parking tickets can result in a boot. If the county issues you two or more parking or camera tickets (also called Notices of Liability) and you ignore them, the county can authorize parking enforcement agents to put a boot on your vehicle.

What Is the Point of a Boot?

We’ve already talked about the mechanical point of a boot, so let’s take some time to discuss the legal point of a boot. Putting a boot on somebody’s car has much the same effect as towing and impounding their car—but with much less hassle. So, to prevent the county from having to tow certain vehicles, boots can be installed.

Installing a boot on a person’s vehicle gives the owner an opportunity to pay the fines associated with the outstanding tickets without having to worry about extra towing or impoundment fees.

When Does a Booted Car Get Towed?

Boots are not forever. If the owner of a booted vehicle doesn’t pay the fines for their outstanding violations within 48 hours of the boot being installed, the county will issue a writ to have a towing company come and impound the vehicle.

Where Do Towed Cars Go?

Towed vehicles go to any of the several towing companies’ impound lots within the county’s jurisdiction. Most vehicles will go to the AAAA-1 Towing lot in Hicksville, but not always. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know which company has your vehicle unless you’ve seen the tow truck that took it. One potential way to find out is to contact the phone number on your boot notice and ask for more information: (844) 338-6301.

How To Release a Car From Boot or the Impound Lot

Here comes the paradox of parking tickets. If you can’t pay the fines for two parking tickets, you get a boot put on your car. To get that boot off your car, you have to pay the fines for those tickets and an additional $341. If you don’t pay it within 48 hours, your vehicle will be towed and you’ll have to pay all of those costs plus additional charges for towing and impoundment. Suffice to say, Robin Hood would not be happy with this policy.

Booted Vehicles

The most effective way to get a boot off your vehicle is to pay the outstanding balance of all of your tickets (or at least all but one) and the boot fee. Once you’ve paid those costs, you can petition the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (TPVA) to remove the boot. Once paid, you will be provided a five-digit code, which you can then use to legally remove the boot yourself.

Impounded Vehicles

The most effective way to get your vehicle out of an impound lot is to pay the outstanding balance of all of your tickets, the boot fee, the towing fee, and the impoundment fee. This can end up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

How To Pay Boot Fees

Although there are alternative options available for people suffering in verifiable financial hardships, the overwhelming majority of people will have to pay their boot fees in full. You can do so online, over the phone, or in person at one of the TPVA boot drop off locations.

Online

The TPVA maintains a rather straightforward online payment system for boot fees, which you can find by clicking here or scanning the QR code in the top right corner of your boot notice. Once you’ve accessed the web portal, you’ll need to enter your information and locate your specific file. To do so, check your boot notice for the following information:

• Boot violation number.
• License plate state.
• License plate number.

This web portal also contains videos on how to remove the boot or troubleshoot it if it’s not working properly, info on where to return the boot once removed, and some other helpful stuff.

Phone

You can also pay by phone by calling (844) 338-6301. This toll-free number enables you to follow a list of simple prompts and submit your payment information for all that you owe. Once paid, you will receive your five-digit boot code from the attendant.

In Person

To pay your TPVA fees in person, you can head down to the following address: 16 Cooper St., Hempstead, NY 11550. The TPVA accepts the following payment methods:

• Cash.
• Checks.
• Money orders.
• Credit cards.
• Debit cards (MasterCard or Visa only).
• Personal check (up to $1,500 only).