Tire chalk, a common tool in municipal parking enforcement, was recently declared unconstitutional by a three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals, with judges equating the practice to a warrantless search of private property.
The ruling — stemming from a lawsuit against Saginaw, Mich. — does not apply to Utah, but representatives for cities in The Beehive State say they’re keeping an eye on the nascent, anti-chalking precedent.
Utah’s capital city does no longer marks vehicles as part of its parking enforcement, Rojas said, instead relying on license plate scanners to determine if cars have overstayed their welcome.