This Visibility-Blocking Device Is A Wheel Clamp For The Digital Age

Traffic wardens could soon be history, but before you crack the champagne open, check out the device that could be replacing them. We just don't know what to feel

The one and only good thing about parking wardens is that sometimes – sometimes – they can cut you some slack and let you off a fine if they feel like it. But even that narrow flicker of hope could be extinguished by a new invention that almost completely blocks the view out of the windscreen.

If you’re caught violating parking regs, the enforcement agent can simply pull up and place a new device called The Barnacle on your windscreen. As you’d imagine, it uses Masters of the Universe-strength suckers to hold the unit in place – and it’s locked on by a coded panel.

After that it’s a case of calling a number, coughing up your fine to get hold of a code to unlock the device, and then – this is possibly the most irritating bit – you have to drive to a set location to give the enforcement company their Barnacle back. Because that’s exactly what you’d feel like doing, instead of just tossing it into the nearest bin.

This Visibility-Blocking Device Is A Wheel Clamp For The Digital Age

The unit comes from a New York-based firm called Ideas That Stick. The firm’s president, Kevin Dougherty, is quoted by parkingtoday.com – no, really, it exists – as saying the Barnacle “makes it easier for everyone involved.”

“From an administrative standpoint, we wanted to help agencies reduce the overall cost of managing their enforcement activities,” he said. “By making the device compact and stackable, we were able to free up scarce storage space in customer facilities and allow smaller enforcement vehicles to carry more of the devices.

“Its design also allows for ‘green’ deployment methods, transporting the devices in a handcart or electric scooters. The immobilised vehicle is also towable when the device is deployed, which can eliminate a duplication of effort and resources for the enforcing agency.”

This Visibility-Blocking Device Is A Wheel Clamp For The Digital Age

As it can be deployed from the kerb on either side of the car, as well as being lightweight and needing no bending to pick it up, it’s less likely to cause workplace injuries, the company says.

We’re still a little hazy on how a faceless, remorseless, automated system is better for the driver who overstayed his parking slot by five minutes, but hey. Anything that prevents some greasy, unwashed guy in a tow truck getting anywhere near your car can’t be that bad. Can it?

Comments

maurotehsilva

From now on I’ll get and open wheeler in order to travel NYC

09/28/2016 - 13:42 |
1 | 0
llP VeIoclty

“Compact” - are they thinking straight, this thing is not compact even if it folds in half

09/28/2016 - 14:16 |
3 | 0
Lorenzo

I say just keep a drill in the boot and drill out the suction cup…

09/28/2016 - 14:57 |
0 | 0
Danno

Alllllllrighty then!

09/28/2016 - 15:02 |
42 | 1
......

disklok is going to be mad

09/28/2016 - 15:53 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Did you guys ever read the story of the guy who had his own wheel clamp so he would park in restricted parking, clamp his own wheel, and unlock it with his key when he was done.

09/28/2016 - 16:15 |
43 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That’s a brilliant idea! Would work well with one of these

09/28/2016 - 20:31 |
4 | 0
PantherWopr

ha, good luck in this thing

09/28/2016 - 16:31 |
8 | 0
TheMindGarage

The real maniac driver would drive off with the barnacle still attached.

09/28/2016 - 16:54 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

so people of england, make sure you’ve got a knife in your car to cut through the rubber, which makes it vacuum, which makes sure it stays on the car. otherwise, bring some other tool. don’t pay though…

09/28/2016 - 16:59 |
2 | 0
Mr.PurpleV12

-que the music-

09/28/2016 - 17:13 |
6 | 0

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