Enforcement

This session highlighted the psychology of parking and technology's role in influencing driver behavior. Key topics included habit formation in parking patterns, the impact of pricing on demand, payment compliance rates, and the effectiveness of enforcement. The panelists shared experiences from their respective municipalities and universities, highlighting challenges and successes with technology implementation, such as sensor data, mobile payments, and digital signage. They also explored future trends in digital curb management and the potential for technology to improve convenience and compliance while addressing concerns about pricing and accessibility.

Upper Darby, PA - All enforcement personnel, office staff, and supervisors have successfully earned the Parking Enforcement Compliance Professional (PECP) credential through the International Parking & Mobility Institute.

Somerville, MA — At the annual New England Parking & Transportation Council Municipal Forum, Ken Wollins of Municipal Parking Services (MPS) shared how communities are using state-of-the-art technology to address illegal parking and transit rider safety.

Atlanta, GA - Arrive, a leading global mobility platform, announced the intention to acquire Passport, unifying enforcement technology, paid parking and payment infrastructure for autonomous-ready mobility into one platform.

In dense downtown communities, limited parking availability often leads drivers to make short-term decisions that carry real safety consequences. Vehicles parked illegally near crosswalks, bus stops, and intersections may be stopped for only a moment, but they routinely block sightlines, force pedestrians into traffic, and create hazards for motorists and transit riders.

De-Escalation — Distance, Language, and Boundaries

Adrienne shared strategies for shifting parking enforcement from rigid rule enforcement to customer-focused solutions, emphasizing education over punishment and empowering officers with field discretion. She highlighted initiatives at Kansas State University, including a donations-for-citations program, vehicle inspections, and alternative resolution options. The presentation reinforced treating parking officers as ambassadors rather than enforcers and encouraged attendees to adopt service-oriented approaches in their own operations. The session concluded with a Q and A covering uniform standards, email communication, and faculty parking expectations.

The Hidden System That Keeps Communities Moving

Presented by the IPMI Technology Committee, the focus is on giving enforcement and parking professionals a clear view of the technologies their peers around the world are using today and what lessons those approaches may offer for future technology planning.

The California Mobility & Parking Association (CMPA) surveyed agencies throughout California from December 10, 2025, through January 10, 2026, to understand the use and impact of Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) in parking enforcement. Across CMPA respondents, BWC adoption in parking enforcement is emerging but not yet widespread.

Charlotte, NC – Cities across North America are increasingly focusing on compliance when it comes to how they manage parking, prioritizing behavior change and operational efficiency over citation volume, according to a new study from Passport, the most trusted technology partner for innovative curb management solutions. Based on responses from hundreds of Passport’s 800 cities and private operator partners across North America, the Passport 2025 Parking Compliance Trends Survey finds nearly half of cities cite driving compliance as their primary parking goal. “The sentiment around investing in enforcement technology and similar tools to drive payment compliance has evolved drastically over the last several years,” said Khristian Gutierrez, co-founder and CEO of Passport. “These survey results reflect a broader shift in how municipalities emphasize payment behavior, reinforcing Passport’s mission to help cities seamlessly update antiquated models and modernize curbside operations.” Digital tools are playing a central role. Most respondents report that between 26% and 75% of parking transactions now occur via mobile payments, highlighting wide variation across cities. Smaller and mid-sized cities often remain at the lower end of this range due to more limited enforcement capabilities, but as cities invest in enforcement software, mobile payment adoption accelerates, positioning many to exceed 75% of transactions via mobile payments by 2026. More than half of respondents have already moved to digital, license plate–based permits, and mobile enforcement software was cited as the technology with the greatest impact on operational efficiency, followed by license plate recognition. Despite growing technology adoption, staffing constraints and public perception remain major factors shaping compliance outcomes. Limited enforcement resources and community resistance were cited more frequently than technology limitations, highlighting that compliance is as much a human challenge as a technical one. Cities are also refining how they measure success. While increases in paid parking transactions are the most common metric, many still rely on citation counts, signaling a shift toward outcome-based evaluation models. Looking ahead, respondents expect greater digital enforcement, automation, and connected systems to define parking compliance in the next three to five years. “Disconnected systems and limited staff capacity often force teams into manual workarounds, driving slower translation of insights into action,” added Gene Rohrwasser, CTO of Passport. “As systems become more integrated, real-time, and data becomes more actionable, compliance-first strategies will be easier to implement, measure, and scale.” Passport has processed over $4 billion in curbside payments and supports more than 800 municipalities and private operators across the U.S. and Canada, including a new partnership with the City of Boston. Its platform touches one in five Americans through tools like digital permits, mobile parking payments, and citation management. To see the full study, visit passportinc.com/trends-report. About Passport Passport is the trusted technology partner for over 800 cities and private operators across North America, unifying paid parking, enforcement operations, and payment infrastructure into one platform. By simplifying how municipalities manage and monetize the curb, Passport empowers local leaders to boost compliance, unlock new revenue opportunities, and improve how people move around their communities. Passport helps cities thrive by delivering the tools and insights they need to meet evolving mobility challenges and create community-focused outcomes.  Media Contact: Aimee Eichelberger (312) 952-1528 Passport@983group.com

The Hill Country destination of Fredericksburg, Texas, may have only about 12,000 residents, but it welcomes roughly 1.5 million visitors a year who come for its wineries, walkable Main Street and small-town charm. With 84 wineries in and around the community and a compact historic downtown, legal curb space is at a premium, especially near tasting rooms, restaurants and hotels. The City of Fredericksburg has installed 11 MPS SafetyStick® devices in some of its most sensitive curbside locations. The initial deployment, completed on August 26, focuses on prohibited parking zones and fire hydrants, where blocked access can slow emergency response and create dangerous conflicts between drivers and pedestrians. With only 37 full-time police officers, city leaders were looking for a way to extend their enforcement reach without pulling officers away from higher-priority calls. The SafetyStick® uses solar power, motion detectors and cameras to monitor no-parking areas and provide clear, time-stamped photo evidence of violations that local authorities can review and act on. “Illegal parking undermines the efforts of those who work hard and follow the rules, signaling that laws can be disregarded,” Lt. Seelig said. “The SafetyStick strengthens our ability to deter illegal parking and enforce compliance with parking regulations.” Fredericksburg selected MPS based on the company’s story and patented innovations in parking enforcement, as well as its track record helping other communities protect critical curb space in no parking zones, at bus stops, in bike lanes and around fire lanes. The SafetyStick® is designed as a force multiplier that supports existing enforcement staff, improves compliance in problem zones and makes it easier for residents, visitors and first responders to move through busy corridors. The new SafetySticks are expected to reduce illegal parking near hydrants and other restricted zones and to free up scarce legal spaces for people who are visiting Main Street, tasting rooms and other attractions. Over time, the Fredericksburg deployment will add another case study to the growing list of tourism destinations that are using smart, solar powered enforcement to keep streets safer and parking fairer for everyone. About Municipal Parking Services (MPS) Municipal Parking Services Inc. (MPS) is a pioneer in AI-driven enforcement and compliance technologies. Since 2013, MPS has leveraged its unique platform to deliver cloud-connected parking and safety solutions that reduce illegal parking, increase compliance, and improve safety outcomes. MPS solutions use embedded AI to automate license plate recognition, dynamic pricing, zone monitoring, and enforcement, creating safer, smarter communities. The company partners with leading safety organizations, including Vision Zero, IPMI, IACLEA, and IACP. Headquartered in Austin, Texas. Learn more at www.mpspark.com.