Occupation

Parking Enforcement Workers

Human Advantage 68%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.3 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.

Also Known As: Civilian Pay Technician (Civilian Pay Tech), Enforcement Safety Officer, Meter Maid, Parking Control Officer, Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO), Parking Enforcement Specialist, Parking Enforcement Technician, Parking Enforcer +12 more

Core Tasks

  1. Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.
  2. Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.
  3. Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.
  4. Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.
  5. Maintain assigned equipment and supplies, such as hand-held citation computers, citation books, rain gear, tire-marking chalk, and street cones.
  6. Respond to and make radio dispatch calls regarding parking violations and complaints.
  7. Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.
  8. Perform simple vehicle maintenance procedures, such as checking oil and gas, and report mechanical problems to supervisors.
  9. Observe and report hazardous conditions, such as missing traffic signals or signs, and street markings that need to be repainted.
  10. 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.
  11. Train new or temporary staff.
  12. Make arrangements for illegally parked or abandoned vehicles to be towed, and direct tow-truck drivers to the correct vehicles.
  13. Investigate and answer complaints regarding contested parking citations, determining their validity and routing them appropriately.
  14. Provide information to the public regarding parking regulations and facilities, and the location of streets, buildings and points of interest.
  15. Prepare and maintain required records, including logs of parking enforcement activities, and records of contested citations.
  16. Perform traffic control duties such as setting up barricades and temporary signs, placing bags on parking meters to limit their use, or directing traffic.

Supplemental Tasks (6)

  1. 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.
  2. Locate lost, stolen, and counterfeit parking permits, and take necessary enforcement action.
  3. Collect coins deposited in meters.
  4. Wind parking meter clocks.
  5. Provide assistance to motorists needing help with problems, such as flat tires, keys locked in cars, or dead batteries.
  6. Assign and review the work of subordinates.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Perform traffic control duties such as setting up barricades and temporary signs, placing bags on parking meters to limit their use, or directing traffic or pedestrians.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
91%
Less than a High School Diploma
4%
Some College Courses
2%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
2%
Bachelor's Degree
1%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word

Software (14)

  • Complus Data Innovations FastTrack
  • Integrated Parking Solutions MApp
  • Operating system software
  • Ticket issuing software
  • Vehicle information databases
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (17)

  • Analog parking meters
  • Barcode scanners
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital still cameras
  • Electronic cash registers
  • Handheld data collectors
  • Handheld ticket writers
  • Laptop computers
  • License plate recognition LPR cameras
  • Mobile radios
  • Mountain bicycles
  • Parking enforcement vehicles
  • Parking meter readers
  • Parking ticket printers
  • Parking timers
  • Payment receipt printers
  • Wheel locks

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Public Safety Financial Services

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