New York City police issue thousands of dollars of fines and summonses related to parking violations every day. Frankly, the NYPD operates a unit devoted specifically to traffic enforcement. In addition to tickets, police officers use parking enforcement devices like “wheel clamps.” However, your parking faux pas in the Big Apple could result in another measure: a giant suction cup on your windshield.

Your parking violations could result in an immobilization device called a ‘barnacle’

We’ve all seen it: that bright yellow wheel clamp, or “boot” fixed to a parked car’s wheel and tire. It’s an embarrassing nastygram from a traffic enforcement agency. Police officers or enforcement agents will sometimes apply a boot to a parked car after repeated traffic violations and won’t remove it until the offender pays their outstanding fines.

However, New York City police use another device for parking enforcement: the “barnacle.” As the name suggests, the device works by sticking to a parked car’s windshield. The suction cup function reportedly produces 1,000 lbs of adhering force. A driver can’t simply pry the barnacle out of place. 

A police officer places the barnacle on the offending vehicle’s windshield. Then after using a key to lock it in place, the device clings to the windshield, compromising visibility. However, the barnacle doesn’t do anything to prevent offenders from driving away with the barnacle in place. Of course, ignoring the device could be a serious safety concern.

Fortunately, unlike a traditional solution like a “boot,” a motorist can pay their fine and release the barnacle without waiting on the actions of a parking enforcement official. That is, if the violations don’t include more serious police action like an arrest warrant. According to Barnacle, the brand behind the suction-powered device, drivers can pay, remove the device, and return it to a drop box. That, or they can pay for their tickets on time.