Effective on or around the 1st of January 2012, the City of Beaufort has decided to start enforcing an ordinance that has been in effect since 2002 that authorizes 'immobilazion of a vehicle'.

The ordinance states that if you have "3 or more outstanding, unpaid, or overdue parking tickets issued by the City, a police officer or any other person designated by the Chief of Police may immobilize the vehicle by the use of vehicle immobilization equipment" (the boot).  Other regional cities already do this.
There's also an additional $50 charge to have the boot removed, in addition to full payment of outstanding parking fines.  Also, if the 'immobilized' vehicle is left in it's spot past 6pm on the day it was 'booted' then it will be properly towed, and additional towing and storage fees may apply.

[caption id="attachment_5191" align="alignleft" width="208" caption="File Photo"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/parkingboot.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-5191" title="parkingboot" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/parkingboot.jpg" alt="" width="208" height="208" /></a>[/caption]