A parking enforcement officer’s job is to make sure that motorists follow the rules of the road. These officers are usually municipal employees, and in some countries, they are known as “traffic wardens.” While some regional governments hire full-time parking enforcement officers, local police officers are responsible for enforcing parking regulations in other areas.
Automobiles are only permitted to park in specially designated zones or parking lots in many cities. Officers patrol areas of the city where parking is prohibited, such as residential neighborhoods, areas outside of certain businesses, and major thoroughfares. Officers usually carry a booklet of parking tickets in their pockets and place them on the windshields of illegally parked cars. A parking enforcement officer is usually required to write down the registration number of a ticketed vehicle in order to track down the driver if the fine is not paid within a certain amount of time. Officers in some areas also have the authority to fine drivers who block intersections or stop their vehicles while unloading passengers, even if the engine is running at all times.
Many parking lot operators and government agencies set aside parking spaces for physically disabled drivers. These parking spaces are clearly marked, and any driver who parks illegally in one can be fined by a parking enforcement officer. Disabled drivers’ cars are usually easily identifiable because many local governments issue disabled parking badges or cards that must be attached to the inside of their windshield.
A parking enforcement officer in some areas has the authority to impound illegally parked vehicles, and these officers can arrange for towing companies to transport the vehicles to secure government-run parking lots. To get their cars back after they’ve been towed, drivers must pay a hefty fee. Cars with out-of-date license plates or expired registration tags can also be towed by officers because they are not allowed to be driven on the road. In addition to towing vehicles, some parking officers place metal clamps on the wheels of vehicles, preventing the driver from operating the vehicle. The driver must pay the parking fine in order to have the clamp removed.
Other types of offenses can be investigated by police officers who enforce parking laws, but in some areas, people who are specifically employed as parking enforcement officers also have the authority to address other minor infractions involving the roadways. Pedestrians who cross roads at locations that are not designated crossing points may be fined by these officers. In addition, when traffic signals fail, some officers are tasked with directing vehicles.