Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet • Hacker News Board

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#31

Post by cgriswald » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 4:59 PM UTC

Jamwinner wrote: post #4

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #2

OK, the actual design of the thing where it just uses suction is incredibly idiotic, but the kid who got free wireless internet for months by taking its sim card - that's pretty brilliant.

The alternative, tire boots, are equally asinine and more likely to damage the car. These seem fractionally better up to the point where they are hacked. Unessarily connected devices are a liability beyond measure, and it floors me that nobody seems to notice.

A boot, at least, does not obstruct a now-angry driver's view. I have no doubt people will try to drive away with these devices on their windshield despite the loud noise. It's a recipe for accidents.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#32

Post by nimbius » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 4:59 PM UTC

When I first saw these touted a few years ago I'd imagined they would be fairly trivial to bypass.

- light oil or penetrating oil can be used to bypass the gasket. If it will remove decals or stickers, this thing doesnt stand a chance.

- exploiting the coefficient of expansion for gasses (as these brilliant students did) is absolutely an option.

- keeping your windshield wipers up would prevent use of the device.

- running some 4lb test fishing line taped against your windshield would allow, once placed, the gasket to be defeated by just lifting up on it.

and as always, remember, manufacturers are bound to use a specific set of locks and bolts. Torx security are inexpensive and a barrel lock impression tool is about ten dollars.

disclosure: As an automotive mechanics apprentice, ive had to remove way more tenacious crap from windshields than this thing.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#33

Post by teej » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 4:59 PM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #28

awillen wrote: post #6

"a user who found out his campus only had 12 wheel boots to go around and bought and illegally parked 12 scrapyard cars that could be “sacrificed” so everyone else could park however they wanted." Not all heroes wear capes.

Why is everyone in this thread celebrating people who park selfishly?! Taking up spaces with abandoned cars is a particularly miserable thing to do that makes the original underlying problem worse!

Because using scrap cars to exhaust the barnacle supply is a hilarious way to hack the system for the benefit of other students.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#34

Post by johnchristopher » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:00 PM UTC

awillen wrote: post #6

"a user who found out his campus only had 12 wheel boots to go around and bought and illegally parked 12 scrapyard cars that could be “sacrificed” so everyone else could park however they wanted." Not all heroes wear capes.

Ackchyually, only few heroes wear capes.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#35

Post by saagarjha » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

chrisseaton wrote: post #28

awillen wrote: post #6

"a user who found out his campus only had 12 wheel boots to go around and bought and illegally parked 12 scrapyard cars that could be “sacrificed” so everyone else could park however they wanted." Not all heroes wear capes.

Why is everyone in this thread celebrating people who park selfishly?! Taking up spaces with abandoned cars is a particularly miserable thing to do that makes the original underlying problem worse!

Students usually take very poorly to additional fees coming from their university.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#36

Post by appleiigs » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

cortesoft wrote: post #26

> Obviously, some students thought that fee was ridiculous – just like paying for parking at a university where you’re already paying a hefty tuition fee I hate parking fees as much as the next person, and totally appreciate the creativity of the people who defeated this device. However, how should we handle distributing a limited number of parking spaces when there are more people who want to park than available spa…

Isn’t “first come first serve” fair?

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#37

Post by _jal » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

ISL wrote: post #11

aninteger wrote: post #5

Whatever happened to parking permits, parking officers, and parking tickets?

Boots are used to ensure compliance from those who would skip parking fines.

"Parking here [inconveniences|isn't fair to|creates danger for] others, so if you leave your car here, we will make the situation worse by ensuring the alleged harm will continue longer than it otherwise would."

Yes, something something deterrence. Again, in reality, the article explains how that played out.

Proper law enforcement isn't cheap, and if it is a profit center, you don't have peace officers, you have highwaymen.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#38

Post by Symbiote » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:02 PM UTC

Scoundreller wrote: post #23

lacker wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It isn’t actually law enforcement, though. It’s some division of the university which is enforcing parking rules.

Right, but student codes of conduct may have a word about that. My guess was that the university couldn’t really enforce its paper tickets because they weren’t real police, so they resorted to boots and barnacles.

I think my university made it a condition of graduation that any outstanding fines were paid.

Of course, since it was in London, the only student I ever met with a car had a serious physical disability.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#39

Post by imglorp » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

eptcyka wrote: post #22

ISL wrote: post #7

Like adversaries who attempt to outrun a radio, "outsmarting" law enforcement who have your license-plate number is a generally poor strategy. Likewise, putting the police-department's SIM in your phone has some pretty clear downsides.

I don't believe campus police actually has any legal power. It also isn't the police department's SIM card, Barnacle owns it - of course it's still considered theft.

It's worse than legal trouble. They hold your graduation until you return all library books, pay all debts, fines, and interest, etc etc.

Re: Students defeat new 'Barnacle' parking clamp, skip fines and get free internet

#40

Post by g82918 » Sat, Jan 18, 2020, 5:03 PM UTC

teej wrote: post #33

chrisseaton wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is everyone in this thread celebrating people who park selfishly?! Taking up spaces with abandoned cars is a particularly miserable thing to do that makes the original underlying problem worse!

Because using scrap cars to exhaust the barnacle supply is a hilarious way to hack the system for the benefit of other students.

I think the argument is that this isn't to the benefit of other students, only to the benefit of other students that park improperly. Improperly parked cars decreases parking supply and puts more stress on students who park properly since they are unlikely to double park or park in a non marked location, whereas bad actors would be willing to deal with the low supply by parking even more improperly.