District law states that a vehicle is boot-eligible if it has two or more unsatisfied parking and/or photo enforcement tickets that are more than 60 days old. DPW boot crews search for scofflaws’ vehicles using License Plate Recognition System (LPRS) technology. DPW will tow booted vehicles from the street to the Blue Plains Impoundment and Storage Facility at 5001 Shepherd Parkway, SW. The closest Metro stop is the Anacostia Subway Station. Or, the automobile may have been relocated to our Bryant Street lot, at 2115 Bryant St., NE. The Closest metro stop is the Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood (both open weekdays between 8 am and 6 pm). Customers may call (202) 541-6083 to learn the impoundment lot where their vehicle was towed.
All fines, including those associated with multiple tag numbers under your name, as well as any boot and/or tow fees, must be paid in full before your vehicle will be released. Payments can be made online by debit or credit card (Visa and MasterCard only; cash or checks are not accepted) either at the Blue Plains Impoundment Lot or through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Consult the DMV Website for a menu of services, hours and locations for each facility.
Vehicle Auction
Impounded vehicles that remain unclaimed after 28 days following notification are sold at public auction online at www.dcgovt.govdeals.com or scrapped.
Avoid having your Vehicle booted or Impounded
Motorists should pay their tickets promptly (within 30 days, before fines double), or request adjudication (within 60 days of being ticketed). Vehicles are considered “boot eligible” if they have two or more unsatisfied tickets that are 60+ days old.
If the vehicle has been booted, attempt to satisfy all outstanding fees as soon as possible, as booted vehicles are automatically subject to impoundment, which will result in additional towing and storage fees. Carefully read all parking signs, particularly those governing meters, rush hour, street cleaning and other restrictions. (Rule of thumb: Signs with red lettering tell customers what they shouldn’t do (e.g., No Parking Anytime); signs with green lettering tell customers what they may do (e.g., Pay to Park). Many signs also have directional arrows to help customers determine where parking boundaries are.
Retrieve Impounded Vehicle
Before picking up an impounded vehicle, please make sure all outstanding fines and fees have been paid in full. That total includes unpaid fines tied to other vehicles registered in your name, along with any applicable boot, tow, and storage fees. Payments must be made online before release. Customers should also confirm which impoundment lot has their vehicle before arriving.
Customers must present their fee payment receipt, vehicle registration, and valid driver’s license. If the person retrieving the vehicle is not the owner, that person must have a notarized statement from the owner authorizing him/her to retrieve it.
Pick-up Locations:
Blue Plains Impoundment and Storage Facility at 5001 Shepherd Parkway, SW
Bryant Street Impoundment and Storage Facility, at 2115 Bryant St., NE
(both open weekdays between 8 am and 6 pm)
Customers may call (202) 541-6083 to learn the impoundment lot where their vehicle was towed.
How You Can Help
- Avoid becoming boot-eligible by either paying the ticket online or pursuing mail or in-person adjudication within 60 days of when the ticket was issued. Customers whose tags have expired may renew their registration online at the impoundment lot customer service center, print a temporary registration, and drive their vehicle off the lot (if the vehicle can be driven).
- Call the Towing Control Dispatch Center at (202) 541-6083 if you believe your vehicle has been towed. If it has been towed, DPW staff will be able to tell you where your vehicle is located.
