New Sudbury resident Lori Zanutto is fighting a $95 charge she had to pay DriveWatch Security to unlock a device on her car.
Her car was immobilized or “booted” on June 10 in front of the Riverside Health and Business Centre. Sudbury Hydro has offices next to the business centre.
The owner of the property employed the services of the company to make sure only customers and clients parked at the premises.
There is a large sign in the parking lot on the side bordering the Sudbury Hydro building which indicated the parking area was private property, for clients and customers only of the Riverside Health and Business Centre.
The sign warns motorists that violating the conditions of the owner could cause vehicles to be impaired by DriveWatch Security. This would be at the owner’s expense — a sum of $95 to be paid on the spot.
If DriveWatch Security staff suspect a driver has parked illegally in the lot, they can attach a device to the front wheel of the vehicle that prevents the driver from driving away.
The incident involving Zanutto occurred after she parked in front of the Riverside Drive Shopper’s Drug Mart in order to conduct business at both Sudbury Hydro and the site’s pharmacy. It cost her $95.
Lori Zanutto is fighting a $95 fine after her vehicle was “booted” by a DriveWatch Security device in front of a Shopper’s Drug Mart on Riverside Drive. Photo by Marg Seregelyi
“I did not see the (warning) sign. I was reading my hydro bill when I left Sudbury Hydro,” she said. “I saw the other side of the sign which did say the parking area was for clients and customers of the Riverside Health and Business Centre so I thought I was alright.”
Because she entered the Sudbury Hydro building first — and not the pharmacy — her car was “booted.” This is what she she was told by the DriveWatch employee responsible for booting.
She said she had to walk to the downtown to cash a $100 birthday cheque she had received the day before, though she asked the DriveWatch security person if she could be given a ticket instead. Her request was refused, she said.
“I have had asthma since I was born,” she said. “It was a warm day. If it was any hotter I would have had trouble walking the distance. What if I was pregnant or had my aged mother with me at the time?”
Thanks to an understanding downtown credit union employee, she was given a ride back to her car with the cash and she was able to free her vehicle after paying the DriveWatch employee the full amount.
Zanutto said she is continuing to fight the expense. She is investigating whether or not DriveWatch has the legal authority to immobilize vehicles in the city.
