Parking Enforcement Workers

Also called: Enforcement Safety Officer, Meter Maid, Parking Control Officer, Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO), Parking Enforcement Specialist

Parking Enforcement Workers

Varies

estimated salary

Parking enforcement workers patrol assigned areas, such as public parking lots or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.

  • Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.
  • Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.
  • Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.
  • Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.
  • Maintain assigned equipment and supplies, such as hand-held citation computers, citation books, rain gear, tire-marking chalk, and street cones.
  • Respond to and make radio dispatch calls regarding parking violations and complaints.
  • Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.
  • Perform simple vehicle maintenance procedures, such as checking oil and gas, and report mechanical problems to supervisors.
  • Observe and report hazardous conditions, such as missing traffic signals or signs, and street markings that need to be repainted.
  • Identify vehicles in violation of parking codes, checking with dispatchers when necessary to confirm identities or to determine whether vehicles need to be booted or towed.
  • Train new or temporary staff.
  • Make arrangements for illegally parked or abandoned vehicles to be towed, and direct tow-truck drivers to the correct vehicles.
  • Investigate and answer complaints regarding contested parking citations, determining their validity and routing them appropriately.
  • Provide information to the public regarding parking regulations and facilities, and the location of streets, buildings and points of interest.
  • Prepare and maintain required records, including logs of parking enforcement activities, and records of contested citations.
  • Perform traffic control duties such as setting up barricades and temporary signs, placing bags on parking meters to limit their use, or directing traffic.
  • Mark tires of parked vehicles with chalk and record time of marking, and return at regular intervals to ensure that parking time limits are not exceeded.
  • Locate lost, stolen, and counterfeit parking permits, and take necessary enforcement action.
  • Collect coins deposited in meters.
  • Wind parking meter clocks.
  • Provide assistance to motorists needing help with problems, such as flat tires, keys locked in cars, or dead batteries.
  • Assign and review the work of subordinates.
  • Remove handbills within patrol areas.
Work Context
  • Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 96% responded "Every day".
  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 88% responded "Continually or almost continually".
  • In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 78% responded "Every day".
  • Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 73% responded "Every day".
  • Deal With External Customers — 63% responded "Extremely important".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 40% responded "Extremely important".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Patrol properties to maintain safety.
  • Relay information about incidents or emergencies to personnel using phones or two-way radios.
  • Issue warnings or citations.
  • Relay information about incidents or emergencies to personnel using phones or two-way radios.
  • Train employees in proper work procedures.
  • Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
  • Read More

Knowledge

English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Read More

Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Read More

Abilities

Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Clarity
  • The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information Ordering
  • The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Read More