The Auburn Police Department finally got to play with its new tool, and one man isn't happy about it.

APD traffic enforcement coordinator Tom Weed directed a towing company Thursday to place a steel boot on the car of a man who owes the second largest amount of money in city parking ticket fines.

Jethro Loftus said putting an immobilization device on his car was unnecessary. His was the first car to have the boot attached to the wheel in the city.

Loftus said he paid $920 worth of parking fines last year. The city treasurer's office indicates a John E. Loftus paid $930 worth of parking tickets last year.

“I paid those last year without them resorting to this. The whole scheme is ill considered,” Loftus said.

Besides finding two orange tags on his vehicle telling him whom to call, Loftus also got another ticket because the meter at his parking space did not have time on it when the towing company came. Loftus' Audi was parked in a city lot off Court Street when Weed located it.

Loftus, an attorney, has received more than 35 tickets, including two in 1997, and one as recently as October.

According to the Treasurer's Office, he owes the city $775, plus the extra $10 for Thursday's parking tickets. He also will have to pay the $100 fee for the towing company's service to put the boot on, and take it off.

Loftus argues with the amount he owes, adding that some meters only give him 24 minutes, rather than 30 minutes. He added he gets stuck in court some days and if he leaves, the judge will bump him to the end of daily schedule. Then, he would have to charge Cayuga County for two more hours, he added.

Also, he never knows how long a court date will last, Loftus said.

The city sent Loftus letters detailing how much he owes in parking fines, Weed said.

Before the boot, the city sends notes reminding motorists to pay their debts 30 days after getting the tickets, then 60 days. According to state law, if the driver still did not pay the three tickets in 18 months, they would be considered a scofflaw by the state and can't renew their license plates with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

If an owner of a booted car doesn't pay to have the boot removed after three days, Eliminator Automotive will tow the car to its impound lot. From there, the person would have to pay his or her parking fines, the money to get the boot removed, and $25 daily storage fees.

The APD will target car owners with outstanding debts of $100 or more. Police will utilize a license plate reader to locate owners in conjunction with the $500 parking boot.

Auburn City Council agreed to buy the immobilization device Aug. 24.

APD searched for the first car to put it on last week, but only found vehicles in residences.

“Even though it's legal, we frown upon going on private property,” Weed said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net