A woman sparked controversy on social media when she said a windshield lock was installed on her vehicle just 45 seconds after she parked in a private area.
Oliviashared a video on TikTok to explain his experiences. According to him, he pulled into a parking lot to get food and returned less than a minute later to find a lock on the windshield of his vehicle.
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“There was a sign but I mean…no big deal, it looked like a normal parking lot,” he wrote in the comments. His video went viral, with more than 1 million views and hundreds of confused user comments.
The device seen in the video Barnacle Parking Enforcement It is a vacuum windshield immobilizer produced by.
According to the manufacturer, this device clings to the windshield with a force of more than 450 kg using two industrial suction cups. Once installed, it completely blocks the driver’s view.
To remove the lock, the driver must scan the QR code or call the number printed on the device, pay the required fee and wait for a remote operator to release the suction cups electronically. The device must then be returned to the specified drop-off point.
This system has been introduced in many cities in the USA, including Fort Lauderdale (Florida) and Allentown (Pennsylvania). However, many users complained about the one installed on Olivia’s vehicle. Barnacle of the device Bob’s Sponges He realized that it belonged to a company called; This shows that the application was made by a private company, not a municipal official.
Although private parking enforcement is legal in Pennsylvania, the law requires private operators to clearly and conspicuously state the inspection procedure, fees, and phone number of the responsible company.
The absence of any of these elements constitutes a violation of consumer protection rules. Additionally, if the lock was actually installed in just 45 seconds, as Olivia says, this could also be considered a “predatory practice.”
On the other hand, many users shared tips on how to get out of this situation. “Turn the heater on at maximum temperature for 15 minutes. Then insert a credit card under it,” said a TikTok user.
“We took ours out, took it home, and they sent me bills in the mail for months. It’s still sitting in my garage,” another recounted. “If it were me, I’d break the window and leave,” another user joked.
Photo and video: TikTok @olivialangston7. This content was created with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
