01-03-2025
Barnacle device clamps down on illegal parking in Franklin County
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Drivers might see something bigger than a parking ticket on their windshield.
It's called 'The Barnacle,' and it saves sheriff's deputies the time of writing parking citations.
'The deputy rides through, or they get a complaint about an illegally parked car, they'll just pull the barnacle out of the back of their truck, put it on the windshield, drive away,' Sheriff A.J. Smith said.
Smith says parking tickets haven't been effective in stopping drivers from illegally parking, especially at the Alligator Point beach access. There are only 45 parking spots, and during spring break and peak season, they fill up fast.
Many people park illegally, creating a safety hazard. That's where the barnacle comes in.
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The bright yellow device sticks to your windshield using powerful suction cups. It blocks the vehicle's windshield so violators can't drive until it is removed. It can't be ignored like a parking ticket.
'You can't remove the device. And you can see this one is engaged, you can't move it, try to tamper with it. The alarm will go off and also sends us a message to our phone saying that somebody is trying to tamper with the device,' Franklin County Sheriff's Office Col. Dwayne Coulter said.
To remove the barnacle, drivers must scan the QR code and pay a $108 fine. They also pay a $300 deposit until the barnacle is returned to the designated drop box at the Old Alligator Point fire station.
County commissioners bought 6 barnacles at a total cost of more than $5,000. Sheriff Smith believes it will help deliver the intended message.
'When somebody comes up from the beach after a long day on the beach and they're getting to their car and they see the barnacle, it's going to be quite a shock. Don't park where you're not supposed to, and then you won't have to worry about being barnacled,' Smith said.
Deputies have already written more than 50 citations in the last two days. Smith says they'll be strictly enforcing traffic citations as the season gets busier.
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