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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">July 10, 2026</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: John Ogan <br />Public Information Specialist <br />Public Works <br />City of Columbia <br />John.Ogan@CoMo.gov <br />573.239.1837</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia adds wheel immobilization devices to downtown parking enforcement program</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - Beginning Monday, July 13, the City of Columbia Parking Enforcement will begin using wheel immobilization devices in addition to the Barnacle windshield immobilization devices already used as part of the City's parking enforcement program.<br /><br />The addition of wheel immobilization devices does not represent a change in City policy. Rather, it provides Parking Enforcement staff with another option for immobilizing vehicles belonging to repeat parking violators.<br /><br />Immobilization devices are not used for first-time parking violations or occasional unpaid citations. They are reserved for vehicles with four or more unpaid parking citations that remain unresolved after their court dates.<br /><br />Before a vehicle is immobilized, parking enforcement agents also place a green warning notice on vehicles meeting the criteria, advising owners that continued nonpayment may result in immobilization or
towing in 72 hours. This provides vehicle owners an additional opportunity to resolve outstanding citations before enforcement action is taken.<br /><br />"Our goal is voluntary compliance, not immobilizing vehicles," said Tiffany Heibel, parking maintenance and enforcement supervisor. "Drivers who pay or contest their parking citations on time will never encounter these devices. They are intended only for those who repeatedly ignore citations and fail to address them through the court process."<br /><br />Wheel immobilization devices function similarly to the Barnacle by preventing a vehicle from being driven until outstanding citations have been addressed. Once the required fines are paid or other arrangements are made through the Municipal Court process, Parking Enforcement staff remove the device, allowing the driver to immediately continue on their way.<br /><br />In many cases, immobilization is less disruptive than towing because the vehicle remains where it is parked. Driver
s do not incur towing or storage fees or need to retrieve their vehicle from an impound lot.<br /><br />Parking citations are due within 15 days of issuance. Drivers who wish to contest a citation may do so through the City's established parking citation process. Information about paying or contesting parking citations, applicable ordinances and fines is available at <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/law/parking-tickets/">CoMo.gov/law/parking-tickets/</a>.<br /><br />Parking citations may be paid:<br /><br />
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<li>Online at <a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://pay.como.gov/">Pay.CoMo.gov</a></li>
<li>By phone at 573.874.7694, Option 4</li>
<li>In person at the Violations Bureau, 600 E. Broadway, second floor</li>
<li>In person at the Columbia Police Department, Sixth Street and Walnut Street</li>
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Parking Enforcement encourages drivers to promptly pay or contest parking citations. Resolving citations before the court date helps avoid additional enforcement actions, including vehicle immobilization or towing.</div>
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<div class="attachments">This release has the following attachments:<br /><br /><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=3622">Immobilization or towing notice 72-hour green warning sticker</a><br /><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=3623">Sample wheel immobilization yellow warning sticker with payment instructions</a><br /><a style="white-space:nowrap" href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/downloadfile.php?id=3624">Wheel immobilization device</a></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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