If You Spot This Yellow Device on Your Windshield, You’ve Been Barnacled

If you’ve stumbled across a poor parking job, a deserted car, or browsed the right subreddits, you may have also encountered a yellow rectangular device sitting on the offending windshield. This is a new device that some parking enforcement officers have at their disposal: the Barnacle. The Barnacle company is trying to expand into more cities across the country. They claim to be a better alternative to the traditional boot that goes on a cars’ wheels. But what exactly are they? And how do they differ from traditional boots?

What Is The Barnacle?

Much like the tire boot you may be familiar with, The Barnacle is a tool used by parking enforcement. It’s touted as a faster and easier method to collect fines. They’re slowly making their way through new cities. New York City, for example, began using them in 2024. Instead of a traditional boot that locks your front tire, The Barnacle sits on your windshield and fully obstructs your view so that you cannot drive.

The company positions itself as the future of parking enforcement, demanding obedience from all drivers. They explain that “the highly-visible Barnacle reminds other motorists to follow parking rules, driving compliance faster.” It also boasts GPS tracking and a “lightweight design” so that it’s easy for parking enforcement to deploy.

How Does The Barnacle Work?

According to the company website, a parking enforcement officer can apply The Barnacle to the windshield of the offending car. Unlike parking boots, which can be removed with the right combination of leverage and determination, The Barnacle claims to be nearly impossible to remove thanks to its “commercial-grade suction cups [that] latch onto the glass with 1,000 pounds of force.” The company also equipped this device with an alarm that will sound if you tamper with it.

In addition to being difficult to remove and noisy, The Barnacle also has your vehicle information linked to it upon deployment. This means that there’s no way to avoid paying the fine. Even if you did manage to remove it, the electronic record would still be there. You’re forced to call the provided number or go to the website to pay your fine. Once you do so, you’ll receive a code to release the device.

In cities where The Barnacle devices are used, there should be a nearby receptacle for you to return yours to once you’ve paid the fine. After all that, you can finally go on your way.

Source

How the Barnacle Works, Barnacle Parking.