NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – If you’re parked illegally on the campus of Rutgers University, you won’t just get a ticket, you’ll get the Barnacle. The Barnacle is a huge suction device that sticks to a car window, blocking the driver’s view.
According to the Unversity, it doesn’t come off until you pay with its built-in unlocking payment system.
“The “Barnacle” is a lightweight device with two suction cups that attach to the windshield, immobilizing the vehicle by blocking the driver’s view. Vehicles with $500 or more in unpaid tickets risk being immobilized. Transportation Services reserves the right to immobilize or tow any illegally parked or unauthorized vehicle at its discretion on a case-by-case basis,” Rutgers says about the device. “The Barnacle allows motorists the convenience of electronic payments and fast self-service as an alternate to the tow/impound process.”
To get the Barnacle off of your window, you go to the website, pay, and receive a 5-digit code to unlock the device.
If you don’t return the device within 24 hours, the university will charge you a $200 deposit fee.
How to remove the Barnacle
Students at the University of Oklahoma last year figured out how to defeat the Barnacle. Simply run your vehicle’s windshield defroster for 15 minutes, then use a thin piece of plastic like a credit card to disengag the Barnacle. Some students even covered the Barnacles with aluminum foil to block the signals.