SANDY SPRINGS — The city of Sandy Springs now has a booting ordinance to both protect its drivers but also levy stiff fines for those who park illegally.

At its meeting Tuesday night, the Sandy Springs City Council voted 6-0 to set a fee schedule for booting fees in the city, ranging from $75 to $450 per day. Before, the city had a towing ordinance in which illegally parked vehicles were fined.

“The goal of the police department is to protect the public from unreasonable practices of a few impound agencies that would use vehicle immobilization devices,” said Police Chief Terry Sult. “We’re just looking for some regulation that sets a standard that protects the citizens but protects the businesses as well.”

The ordinance previously considered charging vehicle owners a $40 per day boot fee.

Sult said he researched booting fees in other cities. Marietta charges $50; Roswell $35; Atlanta $75 and Charlotte, N.C., $50, according to Sult.

District 1 Councilman John Paulson spoke with Anthony Leete, owner of Marietta-based Atlanta Impound, about fees prior to the meeting.

“He said $40 isn’t enough money,” said Paulson. “His standard rate is $75.”

The council adopted a resolution that set a fee schedule for booting, so as to discourage semi-trucks from parking in local parking lots and streets, breaking down the asphalt.

The fee schedule puts a $75 maximum booting fee per day on cars and trucks less than 10,000 pounds and a $150 maximum fee for vehicles weighing between 10,001 and 20,000 pounds. Vehicles weighing 20,001 pounds or more will be charged a maximum fee of $300, and combination trucks, with a tractor and trailers, will be charged a maximum fee of $450 per day.