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City of Atlanta Police Department's Post

City of Atlanta Police Department

May 3, 2023  · Shared with Public
Public Information Announcement: BOOT KEYS
The Atlanta Police Department is aware that parking within the city when patronizing private business establishments can sometimes be challenging. Many of these businesses have designated parking areas that occupy private property.
The owners of these businesses are authorized to either boot or tow vehicles that violate the terms of their private parking areas through independent contracts.
The Atlanta Police Department does not intervene between motorists and private business owners when vehicles are booted in violation unless a criminal matter arises. Recently, it has been brought to our attention that many motorists within the City are investing in Boot Keys, which is a key used to unlock the booting device.
While owning a Boot Key is not illegal, here is what the public needs to know:
It is not illegal to own a Boot Key.
If you use a Boot Key to modify, tamper, or disengage a booting device from a vehicle, you can be charged with:
Criminal Trespass (O.C.G.A. 16-7-21) and/or
Theft of Services (O.C.G.A. 16-8-5) and/or
Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A. 16-8-2) and/or
Damage to Property 2nd Degree (O.C.G.A. 16-7-23)
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Arkeious Grier
I can already see a lot of cases being thrown out at court.
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Tyler Forsyth
These need to be stopped immediately. Harassing people
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Roc Smith
Wait.. so essentially it is entirely a civil matter until someone frees their vehicle from a boot after a private property parking violation that you cannot enforce anyway? And nothing is being damaged. It isn’t “theft” criminally if it is a civil matter and the boot isn’t taken. There’s no “damage to property” if they buy a key to remove it properly. Unless they have been given a trespass notice, are they really trespassing?
Seems like a stretch… and I’d love to see the outcome of a jury trial after one of those civil matters is made criminal by such a far reach.
  • 2y
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David Ohmann
You really need to remove the verbiage “Need additional dispute resolution? Contact the Atlanta Police Department by calling 911” from the APD formatted “Parking Lot Rules” signs, as this is contradictory to your actual policy of not getting involved.
  • 2y
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Casey Hendrix
This is ridiculous... Adding more cases to the already case overload with the Fulton County DA’s office. 🙄
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Lamar Richardson
Soooo in short since the dispute would be a private matter that you can't do anything about it unless the boot is kept. Then it would be up to you to find and prove the vehicle owner kept it and not a guy passing by. Good luck 👍
  • 2y
4
Joy Morris Gann
But yet when your vehicle gets broken into and a window knocked out, the 911 operator tells you they can't give you an estimated time for an officer to respond.
  • 2y
6
Shine Bright
People post too much on social media. It was a video on social media going around of people doing this. Now instead of booting you, they will more than likely go straight to towing cars.
  • 2y
4
Donald Huddleston
But you told the news outlets that it is perfectly legal to use a key. You guys may want to get your stories straight.
  • 2y
3
Deepak Khanna
Oh this how y’all play?? Bet I’ll be handing out boot keys on the beltline next week
  • 2y
8