The parking boot is outdated and inefficient, according to startup Barnacle Parking Enforcement. In Barnacle's view, we should retire the old boot and use its new product instead, cleverly dubbed The Barnacle. It's significantly more high-tech than a parking boot, and significantly more bizarre.
Using two industrial-grade suction cups, the Barnacle mounts to a car's windshield, which unlike a boot, allows the car to be towed. The Barnacle comes with a screen to let the parking offender know why it was installed, and a credit card reader, so they can pay to have it removed. If the offender tries to drive off, an alarm will sound.
It's a definite improvement over the old Boot, but the people who made it clearly have never heard of the windshield-less Morgan 3 Wheeler. In addition, if an owner was motivated enough, they could just replace the windshield.
The Barnacle is certainly strange, but honestly, anything is better than getting booted.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.