Beware, Reston Paid Parking Scofflaws, or Face "The Bumble Bee"

RESTON, VA — Reston Town Center says they're going to be very chill about paid parking in the early days of ParkRTC and won't be aggressive with violators, but down the road they will be employing an interesting new enforcement device for those who repeatedly flout the new rules.

Reston Town Center doesn't have gate arms or ticketing systems. Instead, ParkRTC allows visitors to park their cars and then pay for a session using the app. This makes enforcement a bit trickier, so RTC will be employing a device called the "Bumble Bee" -- also known as the "Barnacle" -- which is a large yellow object that is attached to the windshield and makes it impossible for the driver to see, forcing them to pay a fee to have someone remove it and make their car driveable again.

Don't worry, it won't happen if you simply forget to start a parking session. That enforcement method is only for the worst of the worst, says Rob Weinhold of the Fallston Group, which represents RTC manager Boston Properties.

"The immobilization device will be reserved for the most habitual, repeat violators - they will not be towed," Weinhold said. "The Bumble Bee (immobilization device) is a device that is suctioned to the windshield so a driver cannot see to drive the car away. To get the device removed, the vehicle operator must call security and pay a fee to have it removed."

Boston Properties will have a "very soft touch" enforcement approach at the outset, but has a longer-term goal of "adoption and compliance" of the ParkRTC system.

We are currently on Day 3 of paid parking at Reston Town Center, and Weinhold said that the rollout so far has been smooth. Total ParkRTC app downloads are now at nearly 30,000, he added.

The popularity of the system among locals, however, is a work in progress for RTC.

Image via The Barnacle