A whole bunch of Bristolites woke up to find their cars booted, unable to move until their property taxes are paid and a $175 fee handed over to remove the contraption.
It's a tough world out there -- and it just got harder for many.
On the other hand, we all have to pay our taxes.
Read reporter Jackie Majerus' story here.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
22 comments:
To the person asking if those putting on the boots are entering private property to do it: They're not allowed. But if you've got a car that's on the target list, I'd be careful!
For some reason, your comment won't go online so I answered you.
Did Art get the boot?
this is excellent !!!!!
i am fed up seeing so many vehicles [cars, trucks, motorcycles, campers, etc.] with out-of-state license plates, whose owners are BREAKING THE LAW by not registering their vehicle in CT.
and although the point is moot, what do those who are worried about "the booters" entering their private property have to hide???
if your vehicles are properly registered in CT and you pay your property taxes, then don't bring the issue up.
otherwise, i would say you're hiding something, you should be worried, and hopefully you will be legally "booted" in the future.
-billy from bristol
Thanks Ward right on Bristol b-day...poor timing!!!! You need to think before you act....You really do!!!!
If your vehicle is registered out of state you have evaded property taxes and will escape the boot. if your neighbor has an out of state registered vehicle rat them out as you are paying more because they don't pay taxes on the vehicles
5:13 PM, You're right about thanking Ward, but getting serious with those who shirk their responsibilities on Bristol's B-day IS perfect timing. It's a step in getting our City back on track...Thanks Mayor!
BTW 5:13, you need to think before you comment...You really do!!!!
Nope, I didn't get the boot. Even though it was a difficult year financially, I realize that it's my responsibility to pay my insurance, registration and taxes on my vehicle, so I did!
Going after out of state cars and delinquent taxes on cars was brought a number of times in the past 2-3 years.
What has taken so long?
It's pathetic when some of our political leaders in the Democrat Party who work at city and state jobs are driving vehicles with out of state registrations.
11:49
please post the names of these elected or appointed officals so they can be publically shamed into doing the right thing.
There was at least 1 name posted of a well known Democrat, but it looks like Steve removed the post. Did the Democrat Party liberal goons intimidate you Steve? They are public figures, it's not private information if they drive around Bristol in out of state vehicles, and this is supposedly a free press right?
12:50 - I try to remove posts slamming people when a request is made.
I think the concept is good, but the fees are way out of line. Who the hell can afford to pay $175 or even more if it gets towed and has to be stored? Some people are behind on taxes on their homes....whats next, will we go around locking up thier houses so they can't get in? Police enforcement of valid registrations and having the DMV not allow registration for those that owe taxes should be enough to control this problem. This is overkill. I think getting the boot in Philadelphia is cheaper than Bristol. But it doesn't surprise me one bit. This town is going to hell in a hand basket. Especially with the Latino's taking over just like they did in New Britain and Hartford. Time to move
was it Peter Imperator who has been driving a car with Vermont Plates for a number of years and Ward appointed to the retierment board?
Steve you are a coward and a hypocrite, you whine about how important a free press is, you crusade about public right to know, yet you are not posting or are deleting posts that reveal Democrat Party leaders who break the law. Who cares if one of them complained to you? If these public figures don't want the public shame they should obey the law. This same guy was already arrested before for fraud.
I long ago told everyone, repeatedly, that I would delete any comment about an individual if they requested it. I have done that many times for quite a few people.
I can believe strongly in a free press without believing that anonymous comments on my blog should be allowed to say whatever some faceless person wants.
Rest assured, the next time I see people described here driving around, I'm going to be looking at their license plates.
If what you say is true, I'll see it, too, and will use that information as I see fit.
Everyone,
Steve is perfectly within his rights. He has acted in the way that responsible journalists are supposed to act.
In my time as a journalist, I never rushed into print with unverified charges about anyone. That's simple fairness, whether the person is a public official or a private citizen. I was privileged to work alongside Steve for several years, and I know that he held himself to that standard as well.
What actually strikes me about nearly all news blogs is the way they allow the cowards among us to spout off about everything under the sun as long as they can hide behind the "anonymous" label.
I remember when people who wrote letters to the editor did so with the understanding that their names would be printed with their letters. Somehow or other, that never stopped Frank Longo from ripping into someone. Frank may have been right or he may have been wrong, and I certainly disagreed with him more than I agreed, but he always had the courage to write it as he saw it and sign his name to it.
Someone once wrote about one of our presidents that "hiding behind national security is the last refuge of the scoundrel." In the world of the Internet and blogs, I'd say that "anonymous" easily occupies the top spot.
Give Steve credit for acting with a professional's sense of responsibility. And remember, if you want us to take your words seriously, you have to stand behind them.
Bob Brown
Bristol
This city has an ugly history of city leaders and city workers punishing whistleblowing citizens who reveal shady things that city leaders are doing or for exposing misdeeds and laziness by city workers. It happened to my neighbor and to a relative and I have my suspicians that it happened to me because I complained once about the garbagemen, and I've heard similar stories from other people so forgive me if I don't jump at the chance to identify myself again.
I challenge Steve to follow up on the Democrat Party leaders and others that have been identified to him, if he verifies that what we told him is true he should repost the names.
If what you say is true, I'll see it, too, and will use that information as I see fit.
June 17, 2010 4:50 PM
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like piling up the old credits ? ;-)
I know the entire story about the Democratic official one of you is complaining about. He's not doing anything improper.
Seems like this is something that the Republican Town Committe should step up on and get some mileage, rather than wait until until October 2011.
But then, I have been accused of geing a dreamer before also.
do a story on how many jobs are by people that work for Bristol but live out of town the dollars are going south hire people that live in Bristol or if they get a job from this city they have one year to move here Police, Firemen, Public Works, Parks, Water dept. etc. the # will make you crazy keep the dollars in are town.
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