Can You Drive on a Parking Boot? A Chicago Security Guard Puts This to the Test (VIDEO)

Ever wonder if it's possible to drive away after your car has been fitted with a parking boot, the large, metal clamp that enforcement officers can affix to your vehicle's front wheel after you've racked up too many tickets?

Thankfully, there's no need to experiment with your own Kia Rio that's been stranded on Sheffield Avenue for the past week or so because you had one too many to drink on a particular night, forgot where you parked until about 14 hours ago and then noticed the boot beneath the parking tickets piled on top of your windshield. A frustrated Chicago security guard has done the work for you. (Although you still need to deal with your Kia situation.)

Reddit user jmajorjr posted a video Thursday of the guard confronting a Chicago parking enforcement officer at Division and Clark streets as he bolts the device to the guard's vehicle. Finding that the officer is unswayed by his oratory skills, the guard then decides to let his actions do the talking.

The guard does drive away—boot still attached—although the escape appears to blow out his front tire. But what's the cost of a blown tire (as well as possible damage to the car's axle, wheel and transmission and fines and costs associated with mangling the boot) compared to the satisfaction of sticking it to The Man?

Some Reddit commenters, however, weren't sympathetic to the guard's plight or his display of (un)civil disobedience.

"You don't want the boot? Then pay your tickets? You don't want tickets? Then park legal. You don't want to park legal? Get rid of your car," user battles wrote.

A couple users were even concerned about the parking enforcement officer's safety.

"I'm surprised that it isn't policy to let you go before the boot is clamped on though," wrote redditor PleaseGiveGold. "Just like tow truck drivers have to let you go unless the car is already on the truck (even if they have already slid the car out of its spot with the mini wheel things). Prevents altercations like this that could turn violent."

There have been a few precedents—some more successful than others—when it comes to driving a still-booted vehicle. In 2011, a Zion couple didn't get very far when they tried to drive off after their car had been booted when they illegally parked in a Gurnee shopping center lot in order to avoid paying for parking at Six Flags Great America.

Of course, the most famous bit of driving-while-booted comes by way of The Simpsons. Because if it's been done, then The Simpsons did it first.

Who knows? Maybe Homer Simpson was the inspiration for the guard's anti-authority demonstration.

And in case you're wondering what offenses make your vehicle "boot-eligible" (putting it that way makes breaking the law sound like achieving an exclusive and lofty social status level), you can go to the city's website for all the details.

More via Reddit

PHOTO: A parking boot used by the City of Los Angeles. (Stromcarlson | Wikimedia Commons)

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