Drivers with three or more delinquent Dallas parking tickets within the last year could soon find a new device blocking their windshield as the city rolls out a new arm of its parking enforcement. Starting Monday, Aug. 24, Dallas will begin using devices known as Barnacles to immobilize qualifyin g vehicles. The black-and-yellow devices attach to windshields using large suction cups and a lock. “Well, I didn’t know anything about it until I rolled up this morning,” Douglas McNamara said after encountering a Barnacle drop-off box outside the Oak Cliff Municipal Center. “Interesting concept,” McNamara said. Drivers will be able to remove the Barnacle themselves after paying all outstanding parking tickets, plus a $100 device fee. Once payment is made, drivers receive a code to unlock the device. They must then return the Barnacle to a drop-off box along Jefferson Avenue outside the Oak Cliff Municipal Center. “So the concept of this barnacle – the windshield that you can unlock it yourself – you pay the fine and you unlock it, I kind of like that concept,” McNamara said. The city of Dallas paid $50,000 for seven Barnacles, the drop-off box and tech support. The city said using the devices will lower costs and congestion associated with towing. The new enforcement method comes as Dallas plans to raise parking meter rates by 25 cents in downtown starting Sept. 1, with Deep Ellum following in mid-October. “Prices, prices, prices – it’s just – no,” Doug Alford said. “Bro, we had boots on cars – we’re spending taxpayer dollars,” Ibrahaim Querashi said. Reactions to both the higher parking meter rates and the Barnacle varied among drivers. “I get it – you don’t want people parking everywhere, but I think it’s a waste of money for the city,” Querashi said. Ande and Douglas McNamara said they hope any future visits to the Oak Cliff Municipal Center don’t involve returning a Barnacle. “I like to see innovation, but it seems bizarre that you’ve got to bring the piece back – so it will be interesting to see how that works out,” Ande McNamara said. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less