OUR VIEW: Booting complaints are finally directed in right direction

A Utah State University student and associate professor have pointed out the blatant flaws of the Logan City ordinance and amendment on booting in Logan by filing a complaint last week about the booting practices.

The complaint filed in the Federal Court shows the amendment to include booting is in violation of students’ civil rights. This huge step is one no one has bothered to follow through on, though many of us have questioned the legality of this practice and suffered the same abuse.

These two should definitely be commended for their efforts in trying to save students the pain of being unnecessarily charged $50 without warning. You don’t have to be tight on money, as the majority of college students are, to recognize the inconvenience of returning to a car immobilized by potentially-harmful metal clamps and a demand for $50 in cash.

The questions to be asked should be directed at landlords who request this “service.” Is parking such a problem every single day that booting is really necessary? Should circumstances be considered before someone is charged? Where are the violation warnings and directions of exactly where to park being posted?

Booting violates everyone’s rights and it is about time someone had the courage to complain to authorities that can help the matter instead of giving in and assuming this practice is legal. Good luck this week to the complaint filers. Thank you for doing us all a favor and standing up for students’ civil rights.