Two Ball State students were cited for criminal mischief after they damaged parking boots that had been placed on their vehicles.
According to police reports one boot had actually been removed after it was placed on a vehicle belonging to Travis J. Elbert, 22, 7878 S. 400 W., Columbus.
"He backed up (his car) and backed over it and then kicked and pulled it off," said Sandra Pyle, a corporal in the Department of Public Safety.
The boot was found Wednesday morning near Noyer Complex and was reported to police by an unknown caller, reports said. Elbert was cited Wednesday afternoon.
Joshua S. Faris, 21, 3796 N. Tillotson Ave., was cited for criminal mischief Tuesday night after officers found a damaged boot on Faris' vehicle. According to police reports, the vehicle was parked in lot R-6 and had been moved six feet from the parking block.
Pyle said students caught removing the boot could possibly be kicked out of the university.
A third damaged boot was found on the vehicle of a university employee earlier this week, Pyle said. She said the employee denied damaging the boot and the incident is under investigation.
All three boots will have to be replaced, Pyle said. Each boot costs $400.
Acting director of Public Safety Gene Burton said University police are taking the issue of illegal boot removal seriously.
"If you're caught damaging the boot, you are going to be cited for it," Burton said.
Elbert and Faris could not be reached for comment.
Parking Services has been booting between 25 and 30 cars a day this week.
Burton said more cars are being booted in a day than could be towed in a week.
Parking Services collected $4,975 in fines on Monday.
Chief Burton said the real purpose behind the boot is not to collect money but to relieve officers from towing responsibilities.
"This (policy) frees up officers to take care of their duties," Burton said.
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