This paper uses illustrative examples from Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago to explain how the US on-street parking enforcement system works, and compares it with the UK system. The US process starts with Parking Enforcement Officers (traffic wardens) walking the streets and ticketing offending vehicles. In Chicago, they use computerised ticket-issuing machines, which are about to be improved and upgraded. Once tickets are in the office, large computerised information systems control and monitor the whole process of obtaining payment from parking offenders. Each city manages to collect over 80% of all fines. An offender can contest the issue of a parking ticket in court. Some comparative statistics of the systems in the three cities are tabulated. Some differences between UK and US practices are outlined, with respect to: (1) employment of wardens; (2) ticket issue rate; (3) ticket-processing units; (4) scoff laws; (5) non-renewal of licences; and (6) forms of ticket. The author considers that the UK can learn much from the US approach to adjudication of parking offences.
Samenvatting