Table Of Contents

• The benefits of parking enforcement services
• Parking enforcement tactics
• Parking enforcement best practices

Parking enforcement is a challenge across condo communities and commercial properties. The good news is that Wincon Security delivers a turnkey parking enforcement service. We start by asking questions about the stakeholders that live in, or use, your property.  Property managers and their security teams are responsible for ensuring that unauthorized parking doesn’t occur on a property, they often run up against a raft of obstacles to enforcement. This creates a spiral effect where it becomes difficult for residents, tenants (think office complexes) or customers (in retail settings) to find parking, impacting their experience and/or ability to shop or work.

In condo communities, for example, visitor parking spaces can easily become overrun by vehicles that don’t belong on the property—namely areas frequented by tourists, or where people may look for inexpensive or free parking (residential properties near shopping malls or main-street retail districts, for example). This becomes an immediate (and obvious) issue because most properties lack enough space to accommodate residents, guests, as well as unauthorized visitors. In condo complexes, the number of parking spaces is controlled, with each suite entitled to a set number of visitor permits per month. In the absence of adequate parking enforcement services, individuals may take advantage of the opportunity to fill limited parking spaces with unauthorized visitors, with the potential for lots to quickly become filled.

The same is true with overnight parking, which is usually also tightly controlled. While some buildings will set different limits for day and night visitor or resident parking, overnight parking is almost always strictly managed with permits.

The benefits of parking enforcement services

Sustained and effective parking enforcement services are about more than convenience. It’s a way to ensure that business can be properly conducted or that residents can access their property as needed. In that sense, it becomes a bottom-line issue.

If parking is a nightmare at a shopping mall, customers will seek out other retail options. If residents don’t have access to parking in their own building—in particular seniors, who may have mobility issues and are unable to walk long distances—a lack of parking can make a residential property less desirable. If clients can’t park when they visit your office for a meeting and are faced with delays or parking-related inconveniences, it can have an immediate negative impact on your brand.

In that sense, the benefits of parking enforcement services are numerous, including:

• Preventing transient parking
• Ensuring that parking is available for all residents, by having a limited number of registrations per month
• Ensuring full compliance and satisfaction among residents, tenants or customers
• Keeping fire routes clear for emergency services</span
• Ensuring ample access to disabled parking spaces, as needed

Parking enforcement tactics

So, what are your rights as a property owner or manager when it comes to parking enforcement?  As the property owner, you can control who parks on your property. Consent is provided when someone pays or is given a permit—and if they don’t receive consent, they can be ticketed for parking on private property without your permission.

Issuing and limiting parking permits in residential communities or introducing paid parking in commercial settings—potentially with validation options for customers—are some of the most efficient approaches to making parking enforcement services more effective.  While rules vary by municipality, for commercial and sometimes residential properties, it’s generally possible to enforce paid parking by checking for payment and issuing tickets to vehicles that have not paid.

Once the site is approved by the local municipality, security firms can issue tickets for infractions including:

• Parking in a fire route
• Parking in a designated handicap spot
• Parking on private property without consent

The caveat is that as a property owner/manager, you must comply with local regulations before implementing a parking enforcement strategy. That typically includes the aforementioned site approval, and the posting of appropriate signage indicating parking restrictions.

Parking enforcement best practices

The process may seem overwhelming at first. The good news is that Wincon Security delivers a turnkey parking enforcement service. We start by asking questions about the stakeholders that live in, or use, your property. What are your strategic goals as a property owner? If it’s about creating a positive retail experience, for example, that starts the minute your customers drive into your parking lot. How can your parking enforcement strategy improve their shopping visit?

The best approach is to ensure that parking enforcement occurs without confrontation. Overly aggressive enforcement is a common problem among some security providers. Typically, parking enforcement should occur when a site is experiencing the greatest challenges with parking control. It may not make sense to patrol a commercial lot for parking violations at midnight, for example, whereas a condo may experience greater parking violations overnight. 

Our focus on security guard training ensures that our team takes a fair, reasonable and consistent approach to parking enforcement services. We encourage strong communications with your stakeholders (e.g., residents, tenants, or customers), making them aware of new or existing parking regulations and clearly explaining the reasons for enforcement and the consequences of violation.

It’s our way of ensuring that your parking enforcement strategy delivers results without exacerbating existing challenges. It’s about going the extra step to be a true partner to your organization.

Is your business interested in parking enforcement services?

Fill out our quote form and enjoy a consultation with us to learn about your security options.

Winston Stewart, President and CEO
Wincon Security