County roundup: Hiram considers end to towing, plus news from Freedom, Garrettsville, Mantua and Windham

The Village of Hiram is looking to implement a boot system rather than towing vehicles parked illegally.

“Instead of towing a vehicle, you attach a boot to one of the tires, which locks the vehicle in place, and the car owner can’t move the car,” Mayor Anne Haynam said. “It’s safer, more efficient and less costly than having to pay for a tow. Sometimes you can’t tow a vehicle because it’s parked in between two other vehicles, so it just creates another option. It’s the equivalent of towing to another site, only the car just stays where it is. When the driver pays the fine, the boot is removed.”