In Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood, a contentious parking enforcement strategy has ignited frustration among drivers. They are voicing complaints about being charged over $100 to remove devices called “barnacles” from their windshields.

These barnacles are used on vehicles parked in private lots and are intended to deter unauthorized parking. The devices are adhered to a car’s windshield, effectively immobilizing the vehicle.

According to legal representatives for the parking management company, the use of barnacles is meant to ensure parking spaces remain available for bona fide customers of the plaza. However, discussions within the city’s public safety committee reveal that these devices operate in a regulatory gray area, as they are not explicitly covered by existing towing laws.

A recent encounter with this tactic left Nick Villalta, a local driver, surprised. “I parked just to quickly grab something from the CVS across the street,” Villalta recounted. “Not even five minutes later, I found a barnacle stuck to my windshield.”

“Literally not even five minutes later, I notice the barnacle on my windshield,” Villalta said.

He paid $100 to have it removed.

“Some poor lady in a Tesla pulls up. They literally take it off my car and put it right on hers,” he said.

Some residents believe the practice is predatory and illegal.

“This is a private parking lot. I get that there is a right way and a wrong way, but booting a car and trying to extort people for money is the wrong way to go about this,” said Jerry Erlich of Northern Liberties.

When contacted on Tuesday, Mikina Harrison, founder and CEO of Bob’s Sponges Parking Enforcement Services, referred questions to her attorney.

The lot is owned by “The Robinson Group,” which uses the company for parking enforcement, according to attorney Kevin Mincey.

“As far as I know, as I read the law and our understanding of it is, that the use of a barnacle is not illegal, and so we’ve reached out to the city to try to get clarification on that issue, and we’re waiting for a response,” he said.

ABC Philadelphia affiliate WPVI first reported on this issue in 2023. Critics say companies using barnacles are skirting the city’s Ticket-to-Tow law.

Erlich said, “The right way is to call the police and have them ticket the car and then it can also be towed.”

Mincey believes people are exploiting that knowledge and taking chances, hoping to be in and out before police or the PPA can arrive and also ignoring posted signage.

“They’re rolling the dice, and sometimes people get away with it. In this instance, people are not getting away with it,” he said. “We’ve all done that, but it doesn’t mean that it’s right, and it doesn’t mean the people who own these private lots don’t have rights.”

The city discussed regulating or banning barnacles in late 2023. Tuesday night, WPVI was unable to obtain an update on where conversations stand currently.

“It’s upsetting that the city hasn’t acted sooner,” Erlich said.

Philadelphia police released the following statement regarding the matter:

“Towing companies are not authorized to immobilize vehicles using devices and then request that officers issue citations solely for the purpose of facilitating a tow. If there is a parking violation, an officer should be contacted so a citation can be issued when appropriate, after which the towing process may proceed in accordance with applicable regulations. Parking lot attendants or tow operators are not permitted to detain or hold a vehicle by using immobilization devices as a means of compelling payment or cooperation.”

Mincey maintains the barnacle is not illegal.