NCJ Number
203186
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2003 Pages: 128,130,132
Date Published
October 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the city of Vancouver’s new automated parking ordinance management system.
Abstract
Traditionally, parking ordinance enforcement has been one of the most paper-intensive duties of city and town management. That is changing for Vancouver, which just launched its new automated parking ordinance management system, TicketManager. This automated system is capable of connecting law enforcement officers on the street with a central database of ticket and permit records that allow officers to be more productive in their duties. The system utilizes handheld personal assistants (PDA’s) to engage in real-time, two-way connectivity with the central database. Such connectivity capabilities allow for the elimination of time-consuming data entry and paperwork and allows officers to quickly gather and utilize pertinent information while in the field. TicketManager software boasts a series of drop-down menus and automatic fill-in of repetitive information to make the completion of enforcement notices more efficient. Results of the automated system have been impressive, with voluntary payments of tickets jumping from 64 percent to 68 percent and the illegal use of residential parking permits plummeting. The article also describes other law enforcement uses for the technology, which include automatic, real-time towing requests and adaptations for virtually any law enforcement use that has traditionally required triplicate paperwork and data entry.