In its first day booting vehicles with unpaid parking tickets, Portland nabbed four alleged violators who owed a total of $25,026.

Accounting for more than half: a 2014 Ford Mustang parked downtown with $15,956 in unpaid citations. (The car, assuming good condition and average mileage, is valued around $45,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.)

Portland launched its booting program Wednesday in an effort to collect on $7.5 million in unpaid parking ticket fines.

Vehicles are eligible for booting when they've accrued at least six citations in which the fines have doubled because of nonpayment, or which add up to at least $500. Once the fines are paid, or the driver has set up a payment plan with the Multnomah County Circuit Court, the boot can be removed within an hour, the city said.

The first booted vehicle booted was a Volvo V70 with $3,000 in unpaid parking tickets. That boot was removed six hours later, after its owner made arrangements with the court to pay.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus