Key Takeaways from MAPTA’s Summer Webinar on Parking Enforcement & Compliance

The MAPTA Summer Webinar brought together leaders from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Richmond, and Fairfax County to discuss current challenges and promising solutions in parking enforcement. The conversation focused on increasing compliance, improving officer safety, and exploring how automation and policy reform can support these goals.

A central highlight was Pittsburgh’s implementation of a ticket-by-mail system. Dave Onorato, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, shared how the initiative, supported by state legislation and city officials, has significantly improved compliance while boosting efficiency and officer safety. Despite automating parts of the enforcement process, no jobs were lost—in fact, new positions were created to support the evolving system.

In Baltimore, Peter Little discussed the city’s push to decriminalize parking citations to pave the way for similar mail-based enforcement. Baltimore is also testing vehicle-mounted license plate recognition (LPR) cameras to support residential permit enforcement and reduce reliance on manual patrols.

Meanwhile, panelists from Richmond and Fairfax County emphasized the challenges posed by state-level legal constraints and high staff turnover. Both cities are advocating for legislative change to modernize enforcement options, especially around ticket delivery and automation. Across all jurisdictions, officer safety remains a top priority—with agencies implementing training, pairing officers during enforcement, and coordinating closely with police.

The conversation underscored a shared commitment to making parking enforcement more efficient, fair, and safe, while pushing for the legislative flexibility needed to adopt modern solutions.

As cities and counties continue to balance limited resources with increasing demands for smarter, more equitable parking enforcement, it’s clear that collaboration, technology, and policy reform will be key. The insights shared during the MAPTA Summer Webinar reflect a broader movement toward modernizing enforcement strategies—not only to improve compliance and operational efficiency, but also to protect frontline staff and better serve communities. By learning from each other and advocating for meaningful change, agencies across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond can take the next step toward more effective and sustainable parking management.