The City of New Orleans has booted 370 vehicles for outstanding parking tickets since the new “SmartBoot” technology was installed a month ago.

The SmartBoot attaches to the vehicle but can be unlocked by a code given to the motorist when they call a 24-hour, toll-free number and pay the balance due.

The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works said that 76 percent of the motorists whose cars were booted have freed them by paying by phone.

The department says that people who paid by phone had their vehicles unlocked in an average of five and a half minutes.

“Over the past month, the implementation of the PayLock SmartBoot system has been very successful. It has improved our ability to provide greater customer service by minimizing frustration and anxiety associated with vehicle immobilization,” said Robert Mendoza, Director of the Department of Public Works.

The city has collected just under $250,000 in fees from the booting program.