Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Out of Town

Parking Enforcement is the Killer App

1:05 PM EDT on September 14, 2007

On Tuesday we highlighted a Times of London story about the London borough of Westminster turning to an airline-style variable pricing system in an attempt to make up parking revenue that has been lost since the introduction of congestion pricing. CNet is reporting that Westminster has figured out another way to make up the lost funds. They're using a wifi-based closed circuit camera network for automated parking enforcement.

Westminster City Council is busy installing networked security camerasthat can recognize parking permits and the plates of offendingvehicles.

The system means parking tickets can be issued without a human witnessing the offense in person.

The parking crackdown is the most significant application to be deployed on the Westminster's Wi-Fi network, which it has built over the past year with BT."Parking enforcement is the killer application that everyone is lookingfor," said Vic Baylis, director of services at Westminster CityCouncil.

Baylis said the network could be used in two ways to tackle illegal parking.

The cameras can now recognize parking permits and theirvalidity, the plate of the offending vehicle, and the parkingrestrictions on the road in question. They can also clock the timevehicles enter timed parking spaces. Images of every parking offenseare collated and then viewed by a human operator for verificationbefore parking tickets are dispatched.

Can you imagine if New York City Business Improvement Districts, Community Boards or some other local authority had the power to manage and enforce parking like Westminster is doing? It'd almost certainly be the end of this problem.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Maximum Rage: Delivery Workers Protest Low Wages, App ‘Lockouts’

Couriers with bikes and signs urge the city to step in as Uber Eats, GrubHub and DoorDash withhold work, they say.

March 28, 2024

The Toll of History: MTA Board Approves $15 Congestion Pricing Fee

New York City's congestion pricing tolls are one historic step closer to reality after Wednesday's 11-1 MTA board vote. Next step: all those pesky lawsuits.

March 28, 2024

Company That Fought McGuinness Safety Project Wants to Seize Bklyn Street for Private Backlot

Broadway Stages to Greenpoint residents: "Street safety for me, not for thee."

March 28, 2024

SEE IT: Hit-and-Run Driver With Fake Plate Seriously Injures Cyclist

The 5 p.m. crash occurred at Flushing and Waverly avenue near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

March 28, 2024

Thursday’s Headlines: Shakira Shakira Edition

Pop superstar Shakira performed for a crowd of 40,000 packed into the Times Square pedestrian plazas. Plus congestion pricing news and more.

March 28, 2024
See all posts