Arizona law limits vehicle booting and sets rules for fees and release

A city or town may not ban booting on private property when the vehicle is there without its owner's or operator's permission. This rule concerns booting vehicles on private property without the vehicle owner's or operator's permission. Cities and towns may regulate booting rates if their rules follow the state fee limits. Cities and towns may set sign and release rules if those rules follow the state requirements.

A property owner or agent is treated as allowing unrestricted public parking unless required signs are posted. A parking area is private property regularly used, intended, or clearly marked for paid vehicle parking, including lots, garages, and parking structures. Signs must be clearly visible and readable throughout the parking area and at each entrance. Signs must state parking restrictions, what happens to vehicles that break them, the maximum boot removal cost, and contact details for boot removal.

A booting service may boot a vehicle only after a law enforcement request or the property owner's written permission, and may not boot certain vehicles. These rules cover commercial services that attach a mechanical device to immobilize vehicles on private property without the owner's or operator's permission. Written permission must follow the sign rules. A service may act as the property owner's agent only as needed to collect unpaid parking fees. A service may not boot tax-exempt vehicles, marked emergency vehicles, occupied vehicles, or vehicles parked less than 15 minutes after paid time expires. The rules do not cover abandoned or junk vehicles handled under other vehicle-disposal law. The 15-minute period starts when the paid parking period expires.

Booting services must follow release, fee, dispute, and recordkeeping rules. These rules apply to motor vehicle booting services; dispute duties also apply to parking area management companies. A service must release a vehicle within 30 minutes of a release request and be able to release vehicles at all times. Booting charges and unpaid parking fees must be paid before release. The booting fee must be $90 to $150, adjusted automatically every three years for inflation. A service may not add a credit card fee. Release after 30 minutes but before 60 minutes cuts the booting fee in half; after 60 minutes, no release fee may be charged. A service must offer a dispute process and notify the vehicle owner of the decision within 60 days after the dispute is filed. Intentional boot damage or failure to return a boot may bring a fee of up to $250. The service must keep time-stamped release-call records for at least 90 days and provide a requested recording to the city or town within five days. Violations of the permission, release, fee, damage, and vehicle restriction rules are class 2 misdemeanors. Release time runs from the service's receipt of a release request. The dispute response is due within 60 days after filing. Fee adjustments occur every three years.