The Philadelphia City Council is moving to regulate windshield barnacle devices used to immobilize cars in private parking lots.
Windshield barnacles are large suction devices that attach to a vehicle’s windshield and prevent drivers from seeing clearly, making it difficult to drive safely. More private parking lot owners are using them in place of towing, leaving drivers with substantial fees to have them removed.
According to CBS Philadelphia, city councilmember Cindy Bass has introduced a bill that would ban the use of barnacles in instances where towing would already be illegal under city law. According to her bill, barnacles would be classified alongside other immobilization devices, such as towing or boots, and would require a ticket issued by police before a barnacle could be used…