I am writing this petition to bring attention to the scam activities of Capital Parking ATX. I'm a law-obedient citizen, like a handful of others who unknowingly became victims of this "company" scheme to rob people. 

We parked in a parking lot like we would on any given day in Austin. We stepped out to get some stuff from the Plaza and walked around the neighborhood. Two hours later, we returned to a boot on our car and a sketchy guy telling us we had to pay him 100$ cash to remove it so we could go home. Obviously, we were furious and confused. What authority he had to do that? We didn't have cash, so he offered us Venmo, which made the whole thing look sketchier. I told him to send me an official bill explaining his right to boot our car, his name, and all other legalities. He told us to call the cops, and they would make us pay him. So we did.

Unfortunately, cops arrived but had nothing to offer us as a solution. They said it's a scam operation, but it's done through a loophole in terms of legal aspects. They mentioned that they've been dealing with this company for six months and don't know how they can stop them. 

This company has a license that they just got. In their license it states that workers should have permits to boot cars, but workers didn't! Workers didn't introduce themselves and didn't show documentation or anything. They just had an attitude when we didn't want to pay.

That evening I started googling this Capital Parking ATX (they have a couple of parking lots in Austin). Their google business pages are filled with stories like ours. I even found posts on IG about that same scam operation. 

So here I'm trying to find some solution to this issue. I understand I can't fight someone who operates within a law or, better say, through a loophole in our law, but I want this "company" to stop scamming people into cash giving. Do you want to run a business like that?

Here are some solutions, Capital Parking ATX:

1. If you think you are right in this situation - put signs up, let people know that you don't want them using this parking lot, and let them know they will not be able to leave unless they give you 100$. Let people decide if they want to give you 100$ for using your parking lot.
2. Don't ask for cash or Venmo. Pay your taxes like we all have to.
3. Want to make money? Put meters and make money without scamming. I'd gladly pay for using someone's property.

Thank you,

Austin's citizen