Wave goodbye to wheel boots, say hello to the Barnacle

[midian182]

Parking boots, wheel clamps, Denver boots, whatever name you know them by, these yellow menaces have been the scourge of drivers for decades. But a new device could see their use finally come to an end.

Like the boot, the Barnacle is big, yellow, and immobilizes a car, but rather than attaching to a wheel to stop it from moving, the 20-pound foldable screen can be stuck to a vehicle’s windshield using two massive, commercial grade suction cups that provide 750 pounds of force.

It only takes a few pumps for the parking officer to stick the Barnacle in place. And while some desperate people may try to (dangerously) drive a car with a massive piece of plastic over the windshield – possibly by putting their head out of the window – the built-in alarm that sounds when it detects movement should put them off.

Probably the best element of the Barnacle is that, unlike the traditional boot, drivers don’t have to wait around for someone to show up and remove it. Just call the number on the device, pay the fine over the phone, and you’ll be given a code that unlocks it. You’ll then have 24 hours to return the Barnacle to a drop-off point – be thankful that it folds up. The company has said, however, it’s working with ride-hailing services that can pick up the Barnacle within 10 minutes of one being unlocked.

Nobody likes finding out their vehicle has been subject to parking enforcement rules, but at least with the Barnacle, the whole process can be made a lot quicker and easier.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/66628-wave-goodbye-wheel-boots-hello-barnacle.html

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Counting down until someone finds a way around these in 3...2...1...

 

[Kibaruk]

Get a bigger jacket dude

 

[seefizzle]

Counting down until someone finds a way around these in 3...2...1...

I feel like a drill right through the center of one of those things would do the trick. Sure you'd have to hope you don't hit the windshield but it looks like there's plenty of space for being careful.

 

[Uncle Al]

The funny thing is that considering the amount of some of these parking fines, or at least the ones that get large enough to warrant that restriction, it would be cheaper to simply bust out the windshield and get it replaced rather than pay the bloody fine! Of course, breaking out a side window vs. a windshield is a bit of a different story!

 

[stewi0001]

Kind of reminds me of ransom-ware, since you have to enter a code to get it off.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

The funny thing is that considering the amount of some of these parking fines, or at least the ones that get large enough to warrant that restriction, it would be cheaper to simply bust out the windshield and get it replaced rather than pay the bloody fine! Of course, breaking out a side window vs. a windshield is a bit of a different story!

or heck, just carry around a pair of boltcutters. If this thing uses suction cups, just cut the cups off. You are now free.

The beeping may be a bit of an issue.

 

[davislane1]

Counting down until someone finds a way around these in 3...2...1...

1. Drill
2. Lubricated metal strip
3. In the 'hood: kick out the windshield.
4. Security bypass
5. Solvent

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

Our fuzz used to use boots or wheel clamps as we call them but they kept getting stolen by the offenders so now the authorities have just given up.

 

[andrewdoyle88]

Like the article said, just Ace Ventura it http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lni5q0kUxw1qlh1s6o1_400.gif

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Like the article said, just Ace Ventura it http://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lni5q0kUxw1qlh1s6o1_400.gif

Right! He knows how to handle the Barnacle...

 

[EndlessWaves]

"Probably the best element of the Barnacle is that, unlike the traditional boot, drivers don’t have to wait around for someone to show up and remove it. Just call the number on the device, pay the fine over the phone, and you’ll be given a code that unlocks it. You’ll then have 24 hours to return the Barnacle to a drop-off point – be thankful that it folds up. The company has said, however, it’s working with ride-hailing services that can pick up the Barnacle within 10 minutes of one being unlocked."

Best?

The drop-off point will inevitably be in exactly the opposite direction to the one you planned to go in and of course you're already running late which is why you got clamped in the first place.

Then when you get there the person manning it will on their tea break and you'll spend five minutes waiting by the buzzer and then another five minutes circumnavigating the building looking for signs of them. Either that or it'll be unmanned and you'll get a call a week later demanding it's return because someone broke into it and dumped the clamps into the local canal.

 

[Evernessince]

Counting down until someone finds a way around these in 3...2...1...

1. Drill
2. Lubricated metal strip
3. In the 'hood: kick out the windshield.
4. Security bypass
5. Solvent

1. It might get it off but you might also damage your windshield. Not to mention you'd not only still have to pay the parking ticket but also for the device you just destroyed.

2. That's by far the most obvious choice. 100% chance they designed the device so that there is no space between it and the car windshield. This is just too obvious to miss.

3. Joke? Obviously an option but it would be cheaper to just pay the ticket. Kicking out a windshield isn't as easy as it looks either.

4. Unless there is a flaw in the programming, I don't see this happening. Even if there was regular people aren't going to be able to do much

5. This one also assumes you can get under the device. If you look at the edge of the device it has a black rubber skirt. This means that it can completely conform to the surface of the car. Of course it's effectiveness would be greatly diminished without that as the better seal you have the better suction you are going to get.

Extreme temperatures could have an effect on the device though. Just don't know if it would be enough.

 

[davislane1]

1. It might get it off but you might also damage your windshield. Not to mention you'd not only still have to pay the parking ticket but also for the device you just destroyed.

2. That's by far the most obvious choice. 100% chance they designed the device so that there is no space between it and the car windshield. This is just too obvious to miss.

3. Joke? Obviously an option but it would be cheaper to just pay the ticket. Kicking out a windshield isn't as easy as it looks either.

4. Unless there is a flaw in the programming, I don't see this happening. Even if there was regular people aren't going to be able to do much

5. This one also assumes you can get under the device. If you look at the edge of the device it has a black rubber skirt. This means that it can completely conform to the surface of the car. Of course it's effectiveness would be greatly diminished without that as the better seal you have the better suction you are going to get.

Extreme temperatures could have an effect on the device though. Just don't know if it would be enough.

Nobody who tries to defeat a boot cares about the damage to their car. The idea here is to defeat the device.

1. Defeats the device by breaking the seal. You just drill into the top with an appropriate length bit. Zero damage to the car.

2. Defeats the device by breaking the seal. You file the end and lubricate the band. It either wedges between the glass and the rubber (the primary point of filing), or cuts into it (the secondary point of filing).

3. It's the 'hood option. You think homies can't get hooked up with some new auto glass? lol

4. If there isn't an exploitable software or hardware flaw on this device, they are wasting a very lucrative patent on frivolity.

5. Defeats the device by breaking the seal. It's a rubber ring that rests on top of a curved surface obscured by two flat yellow tiles. If you pour an effective solvent on the windshield, you will melt the seal and it will literally fall right off.

But why wouldn't you just pay the cheaper fine? Because some people are really, really dim:

 

[GreenArrow]

I feel no one mentioned the fact that the vehicle plate will be on file. hence even if you take it off you will be on record for a violation. which will simply make the problem worse. since now you are "evading arrest"(I don't think that the actual term but you get the idea).

 

[s0urce]

Counting down until someone finds a way around these in 3...2...1...

Kick out windshield...Call Safelite for a windshield replacement. Owned.

 

[FPSChris]

Leave windscreen wipers half way - If them move them (which the legally can't)
Use a plastic film on the windshield - Like you get on new electronic devices with no residue

But this won't stop the fine registered to your plate or being towed.

 

[mbrowne5061]

What happens if it gets put on early on an August morning? Car heats up and then the suction cups fail, just like every GPS/phone mount you've ever had stuck to the inside of your windshield.

 

[Rq3EWAq]

This is so cool I almost wish I got one on my windscreen hahaha

 

[Kibaruk]

It doesn't matter if they find a way around, they will have to pay the fine and they've already been tagged, so now the device, adding a second violation and getting into more trouble. The barnacle is just an annoyance, nothing more than bad quality boots.

 

[Underdog]

So if , as some posters have said previously, you are already stuffed because they've got your plate I.D. on record why do they need to waste all that money on fitting one of these gadgets to your windshield? Just send you the fine in the post and the money saved can buy more bullets for the cops.

 

[captaincranky]

So if , as some posters have said previously, you are already stuffed because they've got your plate I.D. on record why do they need to waste all that money on fitting one of these gadgets to your windshield? Just send you the fine in the post and the money saved can buy more bullets for the cops.

This absurd post is the reason people in the motor trade had this saying, "Make sure your brain is in gear, before you pop the clutch on your mouth".

They had your tag number when they wrote the tickets, they sent you a summons when you failed to respond directly to the ticket on your windshield. So, why on earth would you expect the same people to respond to another stupid letter?

People report their tags "stolen", and get new ones issued, so traffic authorities can't attach their original scofflaw tag number to their vehicle while they're doing sweeps of city streets..

Keep in mind these booting devices are a last resort, and most of the vehicles which earn them, are chronic violators, or uninsured, or un-inspected, or stolen, or seized along with drugs in a vehicle stop and are merely waiting for the city tow truck.

Do you even have a car or driver's license?

As far as this new stupid crap "boot" goes. Several rules attach. Something is always a great, nay verily the best idea ever in the history of the world, when you're trying to land a government contract to produce it. (Just ask Elon Musk).

Everything has to be "internet connected", or it simply is out of fashion.

I think they should have made it round, and called it, "the wheel".