Legal

COMING SOON: Inclusive Streetscapes challenges practitioners and decision-makers to rethink how streets are planned, designed, built, operated, and maintained. Drawing on transportation practice and the perspectives of people with disabilities, this framework examines common streetscape elements through the lenses of accessibility, safety, usability, and human experience.

A major change is coming to private parking operations in Pennsylvania. On July 17, 2026, Pennsylvania enacted House Bill 1862, a wide-ranging transportation bill that establishes a new framework for how private parking operators can issue charges and contact vehicle owners. The new requirements take effect July 1, 2027, giving operators time to prepare.

San Francisco, CA - Parking BOXX, a North American parking systems manufacturer and software developer, published an educational guide on California's Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) usage and privacy policy law for parking operators and property managers.

Parking is attracting more legislative attention today than at any point in recent memory. Bills related to parking fees, enforcement practices, towing, parking requirements, and local authority are appearing with greater frequency across state legislatures. This trend is not coincidental. It is rooted in a fundamental shift in how local governments fund themselves.

Ticket-by-Mail Takes Off in Galveston with Promising Results

As digital payments surge in ungated parking environments, ensuring clarity, consistency, and compliance has become more vital than ever. This white paper outlines key best practices for parking operators and payment providers to prevent consumer confusion and mitigate legal risk.

In this joint roundtable between IPMI and the British Parking Association (BPA), we will discuss the similarities and differences between higher education parking in North America and Great Britain and what can be learned from the experiences of both.

Change is inevitable, and when it comes to regulation, standing on the sidelines means accepting whatever comes your way—whether favorable or not. The universe abhors a vacuum, and if industry professionals don’t step in to help shape legislation, other forces will fill the gap, often without the insight needed to create balanced, effective policies. Last month, in a message to members of the Legislative Cohort Committee, Mark Vergenes shared an example of how the Pennsylvania Parking Association (PTAP) interacted with the Pennsylvania legislature to advocate for changes in parking enforcement laws. His message was clear: Active participation in the legislative process is essential. With over 15 years of experience in legislative affairs, I can confidently say: Legislators value input from their constituents. Your voice matters. If you’re not in the room, you’re not at the table. Lawmakers don’t intentionally exclude interested parties, but without active participation, your expertise is missing from the conversation. You have knowledge that can guide policymakers. Legislators will rely on industry experts to understand the real-world impact of their decisions. Regulation is increasing. Across the country, new laws are being passed to address concerns about industry practices, often based on the actions of a small percentage of bad actors. Without industry guidance, well-intentioned regulations may have unintended consequences. Advocacy requires patience and repetition. A single conversation isn’t enough—consistent, collective engagement through industry groups or associations is far more effective than a lone voice. Silence is costly. If you choose to remain uninvolved, you’ll have to live with the results, and when it comes to regulation, the outcome may not be in your favor. State-led regulatory efforts are gaining momentum and could significantly alter long-standing industry practices. While some legislation may have good intentions, lawmakers often lack the technical understanding of how their decisions affect businesses. That’s where industry experts play a vital role in educating policymakers and shaping regulations that are both fair and practical. We should collectively advocate for laws that promote good public policy. That means considering both the intended and unintended consequences of legislation. Moreover, when laws adopt industry practices, they provide legal protections against class action lawsuits and other litigation against the industry. Proactive engagement isn’t just about preventing bad laws—it’s about ensuring that industry standards are codified in a way that provides stability and clarity. Change is coming. The question is: will you help direct it, or will you be steamrolled by it? To ensure a fair and responsible regulatory environment, industry professionals must actively participate, educate, and advocate for balanced land fair legislation. Join the conversation. Share your insights. Your engagement is crucial. Scott A. Petri is the President for Mobility & Parking Advisors, LLC. Scott can be reached at Scott@mobilityparkingadvisors.com.

The homelessness crisis in America is real and has far-reaching economic and community impacts. Parking and mobility owners and operators are facing issues on both the operations and enforcement fronts, from people sleeping outside in and around the garages to those seeking shelter in automobiles using parking garages and lots as places to sleep for the night or longer to stay safe.

Hello, IPMI Community! Parking & Mobility magazine seeks parking, transportation, and mobility professionals interested in authoring our standing monthly columns. You do not need to be a writer; you just need to be a thought leader! I am happy to work closely with those who want to share their expertise but may not be confident writers.  Columns that are still available for 2025 magazine editions include: Business of Parking - Marketing/BD Marketing and business development experts from inside and outside the parking and mobility community provide expertise on topics impacting the financial outcomes of organizations and providing best practices to implement for success. Business of Parking - Finance Financial leaders from the parking and mobility community provide expertise on matters affecting our financial bottom line. From spending to funding, get the most current information on the dollars of our industry from those who know it best. Looking for CFOs, accounting leaders, and strategy officers to contribute! Business of Parking - Legal The legal landscape for parking and mobility operations is changing at an unprecedented rate. Our industry's top legal minds will give insights into the most current legal and regulatory factors impacting our industry. Looking for both in-house and outside legal professionals to lend their expertise! The Green Impact Share stories of the impacts of sustainable parking and mobility. What are the continued impacts of the "greening" of our industry? How are parking and mobility professionals responding to the need for sustainable solutions? HR Perspective Human resources professionals take the lead in sharing vital information on organizational success. Experts in managing our most important resource - our people - speaking on relevant HR or human capital topics. Looking for industry HR leaders to share their expertise! Leadership Moment Share the voices of your organization's C-Suite or senior leadership! Industry trailblazers share insights on leadership and organizational success. When possible, the topic should be matched to the monthly issue theme. We are looking for C-Suite, Executive, and Senior Leadership to contribute. Parking Spotlight Opportunity for planning, design, and construction firms to highlight a completed parking project. Ready to contribute? Email editor@parking-mobility.org, or click here to submit your pitch. Please share your knowledge and help advance our industry! Melissa Rysak is the Vice President, Communications for IPMI. Melissa can be reached at rysak@parking-mobility.org.

The Missing Link: Accountability & Due Diligence