A Baltimore City fleet vehicle was booted and marked with a notice that it could face "seizure by the City of Baltimore."

Adrienne Barnes, a transportation department spokeswoman, said it was unclear how a city-owned vehicle could have been booted by the city.

"That's something that is going to have to be investigated," said Barnes. 

The car was parked in front of the Abel Wolman municipal building near City Hall on Holliday Street Wednesday morning.  Papers in the back seat indicated that it had been used by a housing inspector, and Barnes confirmed that the housing department had possession of the car.

Barnes said that parking agents ticket any vehicles that are illegally parked, regardless of to whom they belong. 

"If there's a sign that says no parking, that means no parking, no matter who you are," she said. "Our ticket issuance is based on safety."

But Barnes was not able to explain why the boot was placed on the car.  Vehicles are generally immobilized after at least three parking tickets go unpaid.

Under the city's system, parking tickets on fleet vehicles are normally promptly paid, Barnes said. 

"When a City of Baltimore vehicle is ticketed, parking fines automatically sends a notice to fleet," she said. "Fleet pays the find and then it's automatically sent to the agency for reimbursement."

The agency then passes the cost on to the employee who was at fault she said. 

Barnes said transportation and housing officials were trying to determine how the car could have built up enough unpaid tickets to require the boot.