LET’S GO TO CLASS: Parking Enforcement 101 BY BART NEU


parking environment. Even when utilizing the latest technology and the best access control system avail- able, someone, somehow, will find a way to break the rules. Left unchecked, this will become an epidemic.


A The basic factors in a successful enforcement program are


relatively simple, but may become complex depending on the features of the parking operation and to what level an institution is willing to punish parking violators. Here are some of the basic factors to consider:


Signage Proper parking enforcement is not possible unless regulato-


ry signs are in place to notify people of the intended purpose of a parking area and the rules that apply.Without regulatory signs, an enforcement programhas little ground to stand onwhen issu- ing a citation. Signs such as “No Parking” or “20-Minute Load- ing Only” are the easy ones to remember, but keep in mind that parking areas with or without access control equipment should be signed also, such as “Permit Parking Only” or Faculty Park- ing Only.”


Fines / Penalties Fines should be set merely as a deterrent to illegal parking


and should not be viewed as a revenue source. Fines also should escalate depending on the severity of the infraction. If fines are set too low, they will not discourage people fromparking illegal- ly. Common violations such as parking in a loading zone for more than the posted time limit should warrant a minimum but effective fine.More serious violations such as parking in a hand- icapped space should warrant a much higher fine. Those unpaid after a set period of time should have a late fee assessed (wording to this effectmust be printed on the citation). Factors that add complexity to an enforcement program are


usually already in place in large university and commercial park- ing programs. These include use of a collection agency to help collect unpaid fines and a link to a state’s Department ofMotor Vehicle records so that the registered owner of a vehicle may be tracked and notified that they have an unpaid fine.


Enforcement Parking enforcement is not a job for everyone. People who


write citations must be honest, have common sense, enjoy being outdoors, have the ability to work unsupervised, have excellent customer service skills and not be afraid to be yelled at several times a day.Many universities andmunicipalities are implement- ing conflict-avoidance and customer service-training programs for their parking enforcement personnel. On campus,when an academic termbegins,many newpark-


28 SEPTEMBER 2009 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com


SK ANY PARKING OPERATOR about the key to operational control and they will tell you it is proper park- ing enforcement. Enforcement at some level is required in virtually any


ing users don’t understand the rules and regulations.As a result, enforcementmust be done regularly and aggressively for the first couple ofweeks in order to educate people as to the parking rules. This may mean utilizing the help of student workers and issuing warnings rather than citations for less serious infractions such as parking without a permit.


Established Procedures Like anything else, as long as a plan is in place that everyone


is aware of, understands and can follow, thingswill run smoothly. Parking enforcement procedures must encompass citation writ- ing, issuance guidelines (what enforcement personnel can or can’t dowhenwriting citations), appeals, voiding criteria and rev- enue collection. Others should be added as warranted, with the understanding that enforcement can be a very sensitive subject, not only for parking customers but also for the upper-reaches of a university’s administration. Look for all loopholes that can be closed by procedural policy.


Bad Guys Like it or not, there are people who ignore parking citations,


have no intention of paying them, and will never be told where they can or cannot park.When you encounter one, you had better be ready. Part of this falls back on procedures and documenta- tion, but a plan needs to be in place for dealingwith a personwho simply will not follow the parking rules. For faculty and staff, establishing disciplinary policies


should correct them before they ever get to bad-guy status. For others, however, limits must be set and procedures must be in place to deal with them. Usually, the limit will be a number of unpaid citations within a period of time or a total dollar amount of unpaid fines (including late fees). This information must be thoroughly documented and presented to the bad guy when you catch himor her (no loopholes). There are two common methods for dealing with these


repeat offenders: immobilizing (booting) or towing. See the side- bar for some advantages of each. There are times when the owner of an immobilized vehicle


does not contact the parking office to have the boot removed. If he or she does notmake contact to have the boot removed within 48 hours, the vehicle should be towed. It also is a good idea to notify your police department when you tow a vehicle, as people often automatically assume that their car has been stolen when it is not where they left it.


Help People Learn FromTheir Mistakes Most people who park at a university do somore than once.


A responsible parking operator should understand that the world is not out to get them, and that people are inclined to make an occasionalmistake. With that, it’s smart to work with the philosophy of educat-


ing the parkers, rather than punishing them. First-time violators should be made aware of their mistake so that they don’t repeat it. That may mean issuing them a warning, rather than an actual citation, if the violation isn’t serious, or voiding a citation if they


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64