Montgomery County Department of Transportation to Resume Booting and Towing as Part of Parking Enforcement on Monday, Nov. 1

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 28, 2021

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Division of Parking Management will reinstate the booting and towing parking enforcement program starting on Monday, Nov.1. MCDOT had suspended certain aspects of its parking enforcement program in March of 2020 to prevent hardship to customers impacted during the COVID-19 health crisis.

The decision to reinstate parking enforcement was made following the lifting of the Maryland State of Emergency. County businesses are welcoming patrons back and have voiced concerns about vehicles blocking entrances and disrupting traffic flow in downtown areas. Enforcement will focus on vehicles that are continuously illegally parked and abandoned cars. 

Motorists who have ignored three or more overdue parking tickets may have their vehicle immobilized with a self-release boot system boot. In addition to issuing tickets, the department mails several letters notifying unpaid ticket holders of their delinquency.

Once immobilized, the car owner may call a 24/7 toll-free number to immediately resolve their debt and release the boot with an electronic code. Vehicles that are immobilized for 72 hours, have an outstanding debt of $1,500 or more, are in violation of rush-hour zone restrictions or are in an unsafe/abandoned condition may be towed immediately and are subject to additional fines and fees. 

Drivers with outstanding parking tickets are encouraged to pay them online here or by calling 240-453-0113. Drivers also can pay fines with cash at the parking stores, which are located at 809 Ellsworth Ave. in Silver Spring (inside the Town Square Garage) or 4720 Cheltenham Drive in Bethesda (inside the Cheltenham Garage). Both stores are open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on County holidays.

For more information on MCDOT’s programs @MCDOTNow visit, montgomerycountymd.gov/dot, follow on Twitter, and subscribe to MCDOT news to MCDOT’s ‘Go Montgomery!’ newsletter. 

Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282 or emily.detitta@montgomerycountymd.gov

Release ID: 21-131
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta 240-372-2282