Nashville car booting company sues Tennessee over new law

A Nashville-based car booting company is suing Tennessee over a new law that went into effect this month that prohibits third-party booting companies from operating on commercial property.

The law prompted Nashville to temporarily suspend the practice of car booting starting July 1 as local lawmakers now must draft a new city ordinance to follow state rules.

In a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court on Monday, Nashville Booting LLC says the new law is unconstitutional as it prohibits the company from continuing its more than 60 business contracts at roughly 105 locations throughout Nashville. The company says it places boots on about 750 to 1,000 vehicles per month that are improperly parked in clients’ lots.

“The Act effectively legislates Nashville Booting out of existence by requiring that only ‘owners’ of properties manage booting or towing vehicles parked on those properties,” the company says in the lawsuit.

Nashville Booting is one of eight licensed third party booting companies that were forced to suspend operations.

While Nashville had its own regulations, the state law added several new restrictions to car booting, including requiring licenses for businesses and capping the fee at $75 to remove a boot. It also added a provision that prohibits third-party companies and only allows the parking lot owners and their employees to boot cars on commercial property.

The practice of car booting has sparked controversy in the city with residents complaining of predatory practices, unclear signage and glitches in the payment systems.

Nashville Booting and another company, Apex Parking, this year were forced to refund hundreds of drivers after they were found to be operating on an expired city permit.

Nashville Booting is seeking an injunction so that it can continue its business.

The Attorney General's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.