By Definition,…. The word “Scofflaw”… is routinely Defined as Follows:
scoff·law (skflô, skôf-)
n.
One who habitually violates the law or fails to answer court summonses.
scofflaw [ˈskɒflɔː]
n
US informal a person who habitually flouts or violates the law, esp one who fails to pay debts or answer summonses
In New York however ,.. the 5 Boro’s to be Precise,.. the word is actually Synonymous with one who Owes Parking Tickets,.. Fails to Pay these tickets,.. Has a Judgment against them for these Amounts,. AND Eventually Gets their Vehicle Towed Or Booted. Thus,. Experiencing Tremendous Inconvenience and Accruing Escalated Fees. It was The City’s way of Enforcing the Forever Ignored Parking Ticket, and to also Generate Massive City Revenue …. and So was Born,.. “The Scofflaw Program”.
A few years back.. ( about two decades ), the City Marshall and the City Sheriff would canvas the area. Going precinct to precinct with a team of punchers/spotters, and a team of tow trucks via a contracted tow company.
The spotters would enter (punch in) each plate number… car by car via handheld palmtop computers which were equipped with weekly updated discs from PVB. (Parking Violations Bureau)
If you were at the judgment amount or higher, you were a “HIT” and the spotter would radio to the Marshal/Sheriff and they would verify the info through their cell enabled laptop in real-time. And since they were in the area and the precinct sector as well, they would arrive in moments and impound your car.
If you were not in judgment for the towable amount,.. you were considered a “Short” and they would eventually get you in the next week or so, if you did not yet pay what you owed and the short amount now surpassed the towable judgment amount.
Nowadays, the program has evolved and the City now uses a contracted Spotter/Locator company which has a vehicle equipped with LPR ( License Plate Recognition) cameras mounted to its roof and body. This vehicle scans each plate electronically and if you are a “HIT”, you are booted on the spot and then eventually towed.
Although the impound procedures have changed, the volume and number of cars hasn’t. Among the Five Boro’s,.. the average Scofflaw evolution is about 1,500-2,000 vehicles per week.