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[HStallion]

Wired Article on the Barnacle

you’ve got two options: Call the authorities and have them come take your money and release the car, or make a payment over the phone in exchange for the code needed to release the damn thing. You’ve got 24 hours to return it, and don’t even think about affixing it to someone else’s car. The pump is locked into the tough high-impact ABS plastic body.

Yes, there is a third option: Ignore the alarm, stick your head out the window, and hit the gas. “Ah yes, the Ace Ventura reference,” says Dougherty. “We get that a lot.” But it’s almost impossible to drive that way. It’s also illegal, and don’t you have enough problems already?

Forget about prying the Barnacle off. The suction is so strong—about 700 pounds—you’d pull the windshield out. A security ring prevents getting a crow bar or anything else under it.

I've luckily never gotten a boot placed on my car but this looks to be taking the idea to the next level. It uses suction cups to stick to your windshield and in most cars would cover nearly your entire view through the windshield. Its got GPS and will alert the authorities if you try to remove it or move the car.

The home website if you want one of your very own.

 

[rtcn63]

Carnacle

 

[Hippopuncher12]

Carnacle

A missed opportunity no doubt.

 

[JadedWriter]

Will probably be very prevalent in Philly.

 

[meltingparappa]

I deeply appreciate the ability to get it off yourself via a code, and not having to wait for someone to manually unshackle it like a boot.

But they missed workaround #3 - destroy your own windshield.

 

[mf.luder]

It looks like a giant open phonebook.

 

[HStallion]

I deeply appreciate the ability to get it off yourself via a code, and not having to wait for someone to manually unshackle it like a boot.

But they missed workaround #3 - destroy your own windshield.

Or stick your head out the window while driving.

 

[Ray Wonder]

I feel like you'd still be able to get a thin shim bar under to break the vacuum

 

[Tecnniqe]

I want one of these for fun.

Also cant you drill a small hole in the class from behind and release it?

 

[N.Domixis]

Just drill a little hole on the inside of the windshield and boom free to go.

 

[Krakatoa]

Those things probably cost more than a windshield. So if everyone just smashes their window shields and throws the crap away. The company will be out of business in no time.

They probably also charge near the price of the windshield to get it removed.

 

[backflip10019]

It looks like a giant open phonebook.

Yellow Pages finally has a use in the post-internet world.

 

[BronsonLee]

Will probably be very prevalent in Philly.

Peeps just gonna leave that shit on their car

Winter warmth shield!

 

[Tagyhag]

I think this seems like a logical follow up to the boot, it sucks that it doesn't fully disable your car though, there will be those that will drive with it or just destroy their own windshield.

Fortunately, it'll alert the authorities if they do any of that, but I'm sure that those that already did anything to the barnacle don't give a shit and will just further the escalation.

 

[Trigonometrize.]

Carnacle

Personally, I kept reading it as "carbuncle," but this works better.

 

[Jarrod38]

Time to bring back Parking Wars.

 

[HStallion]

Peeps just gonna leave that shit on their car

Winter warmth shield!

 

[Admiral Woofington]

can't you release pressure by drilling a hole?

 

[UncleSporky]

Just drill a little hole on the inside of the windshield and boom free to go.

Haha suppose you pre-drill tiny holes in the places where the cups have to be positioned.

I mean people go around with cracks and nicks from little stones all the time.

 

[AYF 001]

I deeply appreciate the ability to get it off yourself via a code, and not having to wait for someone to manually unshackle it like a boot.

But they missed workaround #3 - destroy your own windshield.

Well a couple of holes drilled would be all you need to defeat the suction cups. Of course they could add more smaller cups so that would be deterred, plus having those holes while driving around is likely it's own offense. A thin sheet of seran wrap smoothly applied over the windshield could render the pump ineffective if the plastic deforming could trick the sensor, making it able to simply be lifted off.

 

[vypek]

They referenced this movie and talked about what happens if a person drives with this around on their car when it was presented on the local news here.

 

[UncleSporky]

I don't understand why the boot needs to be replaced anyway. Is it fully defeated now or something? Why isn't it still more effective than this?

 

[HStallion]

I don't understand why the boot needs to be replaced anyway. Is it fully defeated now or something? Why isn't it still more effective than this?

I believe the idea with the Car Barnacle is that you don't have to wait around for someone to come unlock the boot and if needed, the car can be moved when the Barnacle is on. You basically pay the fine and can remove the barnacle yourself and then have the next 24 hours to return it. Seems more about convenience

 

[Dishwalla]

I have never seen a car in real life with a boot on it.

 

[UncleSporky]

I believe the idea with the Car Barnacle is that you don't have to wait around for someone to come unlock the boot and if needed, the car can be moved when the Barnacle is on. You basically pay the fine and can remove the barnacle yourself and then have the next 24 hours to return it. Seems more about convenience

Oh I missed that part.

 

[vypek]

I don't understand why the boot needs to be replaced anyway. Is it fully defeated now or something? Why isn't it still more effective than this?

Can be dangerous to place on the car depending on where it is parked. Some people have been able to remove it on their own. You need to wait for someone to come out and remove the boot. The boot doesn't have any GPS ability (as far as I know).

EDIT: Posted too slow

 

[Neko_No_Naku]

These people talking about a hole in the windshield... haven't you seen Alien Resurrection?

 

[UncleSporky]

To be fair though, most of those things could just be done to a redesign of the boot as well. Add GPS, add passcode to remove (maybe?).

 

[Slightly Live]

This is a car boot.

This is a clamp.

 

[Earthstrike]

People will try to drive with it causing more vehicular accidents. There is risk and I don't think this should be used.

 

[Timeaisis]

I still don't see how either of these things are legal.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I deeply appreciate the ability to get it off yourself via a code, and not having to wait for someone to manually unshackle it like a boot.

But they missed workaround #3 - destroy your own windshield.

This. Glass is covered.

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

I feel like you'd still be able to get a thin shim bar under to break the vacuum

My thought as well, doesn't look hard to defeat.

 

[ZOONAMI]

This. Glass is covered.

Yeah for people with glass coverage and it isn't winter time this is pretty much a no brainer.

Break windshield, remove barnacle, drive away and park somewhere else, take photos of broken windshield, submit insurance claim.

Probably would have time to take the pics right there before anyone shows up about the barnacle being removed.

I suppose They have your plate # though so you'll probably just get into more trouble. People won't care though lol. Fuck this I'm breaking my windshield to get this fucking thing off my car. Ain't paying no ticket.

 

[Slo]

I wonder how small of a pin hole you'd have to drill into the windshield in order to release the vacuum but not fracture the rest of the glass? They'd you'd probably be able to fill that hole back up with resin.

Somebody put a do it yourself kit together for $30 and sell it at 711.

 

[Nola]

Replies in this thread were far more entertaining than I had expected!

 

[AYF 001]

Yeah for people with glass coverage and it isn't winter time this is pretty much a no brainer.

Break windshield, remove barnacle, drive away and park somewhere else, take photos of broken windshield, submit insurance claim.

Actually, if the thing is made of ABS and you have a drill, why not drill the holes through the barnacle and disable it completely? That way you don't ruin a perfectly good windshield.

 

[HStallion]

Actually, if the thing is made of ABS and you have a drill, why not drill the holes through the barnacle and disable it completely? That way you don't ruin a perfectly good windshield.

It seems it has anti tampering tech built into it but who know's if that tells it when suction is being released.

 

[David Incorporated Esq.]

A shim with a thin slotted wedge at one end. The wedge provides a little bit of separation and the slot allows air to move in to break the vacuum. Sell the shim for $10.

 

[ZOONAMI]

I wonder how small of a pin hole you'd have to drill into the windshield in order to release the vacuum but not fracture the rest of the glass? They'd you'd probably be able to fill that hole back up with resin.

Somebody put a do it yourself kit together for $30 and sell it at 711.

My guess is if the vacuum is released they will know and still send you a ticket, and probably try to collect damages on the barnacle of you just left it on the road.

I suppose you could argue it just came off and didn't know what to do with it. Just seems like a lot of hassle back and forth might happen with this thing.

 

[Trouble]

This is a car boot.

This is a clamp.

Incorrect. You're wrong about chips and biscuits too.

 

[Slayer-33]

What if you slide in the nozzle straw of a can of compressed air in between the glass and this thing? lol

 

[ipukespiders]

People will try to drive with it causing more vehicular accidents. There is risk and I don't think this should be used.

I prefer to play on hard mode.

 

[meltingparappa]

These people talking about a hole in the windshield... haven't you seen Alien Resurrection?

A+++++++++++ mental image.

 

[robosllim]

I wonder how long the batteries last or how long the suction will hold when exposed to temperature swings and precipitation. There have been times where I park my car down the block and don't go back to it for a week (not the best idea, I know). What are the chances the thing would just fall off if I got Barnacled and ignored it for a few days?

 

[Ban Puncher]

 

[Allforce]

I have never seen a car in real life with a boot on it.

I haven't either, but I'm aware of what they are. Are they used anywhere in the US or are these more in use around the world? Who here has ever had one placed on their car?

Seems like a lot of trouble just to get someone to pay a parking ticket.

 

[Risible]

This is fucked, because not only do you have to pay to get it off but then the onus is on you to return the fucker too. It makes the company more money because they don't have to have guys come out to un-boot you.

 

[AYF 001]

It seems it has anti tampering tech built into it but who know's if that tells it when suction is being released.

My guess is if the vacuum is released they will know and still send you a ticket, and probably try to collect damages on the barnacle of you just left it on the road.

I suppose you could argue it just came off and didn't know what to do with it. Just seems like a lot of hassle back and forth might happen with this thing.

I just feel like they're trying to reinvent the anti-wheel. Why not just make a boot that has the pay to unlock feature they can return?

 

[robosllim]

I haven't either, but I'm aware of what they are. Are they used anywhere in the US or are these more in use around the world? Who here has ever had one placed on their car?

Seems like a lot of trouble just to get someone to pay a parking ticket.

I've never had one, but I've seen plenty around Chicago. Never really saw them in the suburbs, so I'm guessing it's more of a city thing? I see tons of tickets too, though, so I'm not sure what the criteria for the boot are.