Springfield to use license plate scanners, boots to get people to pay taxes, tickets

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The City of Springfield now has a new tool to get drivers to pay their excise taxes and parking tickets.

Starting Monday, the Springfield Parking Authority is using license plate scanners to find people who haven't paid up. Anyone with outstanding fees or delinquent taxes could have their car booted, towed, and impounded.

The City is owed about $5.6 million in unpaid excise taxes, and $5.7 million in parking citations.

Springfield Treasurer Stephen Lonergan told 22News that he hopes people will pay up to avoid the consequences.

"We've had several people that have come in because they didn't want to be booted, which is part of the reason why we delayed implementing it until today. Because we wanted to give people time to pay their excise,” he said.

Lonergan hopes to get at least $500,000 back. The program itself cost about $16,000 to get started.