Philly City Council moves to regulate windshield barnacles after court blocks police enforcement

Now to the battle over windshield barnacles. Well, we told you last night that city council introduced an ordinance to regulate the practice in private parking lots. Well, tonight, we're hearing from the company behind a number of complaints. Action News reporter Leland Pender reports now from Northern Liberties. We reported on this issue across the city, including here in Northern Liberties at that parking lot just across the street after a judge stepped in, stopping police from cracking down on these windshield barnacles. City council now attempting to take some action. Beth Dyson says a barnacle was placed on her vehicle last week in this lot on the 1400 block of Callowhill Street after she accidentally paid parking for her husband's car instead of her own. After explaining the mix-up, she hoped for relief from the $200 charge that says it was only reduced to $50. You had already made money off a parking spot. You're looking to exploit what happened. The company behind the barnacle, Bob Sponges, represented by attorney Kevin Mincy, sued the city late last year over enforcement. A judge issued an injunction blocking a police directive that treated barnacles in private lots like towing across the city. We have an injunction against enforcing the barnacles right now. Barnacle use is legal. Well, I wouldn't go that far. In the wake of that ruling, Councilwoman Cindy Bass has introduced legislation to regulate barnacles, taking a similar approach to what police attempted to enforce. The bill would treat barnacles like other immobilization devices, such as towing or boots, requiring a police-issued ticket first. We think we're going to be able to make sure that consumers are not unjustly affected by people slapping a barnacle across their windshield. Mincy says a legislative approach is actually what Bob Sponges has been calling for. This is exactly why we had to bring that lawsuit, because all we wanted was really for there to be a fair legislative process. We expect to have very robust conversations with the barnacle and towing industry. In the meantime, people like Dyson remain critical of the company's practices. They want fairness. The citizens want fairness. But having predatory behavior does not feel like fairness. Now Mincy says the city is appealing that injunction, but for now it stands and barnacle use continues. Bass's bill was just introduced on Thursday, so it's very early and it could change before it goes before the full city council, possibly sometime in the spring. Here in Northern Liberties, Leland Pender, Channel 6 Action News.