By Colin Heffron, Jr.:
Parking enforcement has a perception problem, and according to Passport’s 2025 Parking Compliance Trends Report, 72% of compliance challenges stem from human factors rather than technology. That means the biggest obstacle between parking programs and their goals isn’t the tools — it’s the relationship between enforcement and the public.
In the July/August issue of Parking & Mobility, I make the case that most enforcement programs operate with an incomplete escalation ladder. The data tells the story: 92% of agencies issue citations, but only 11% issue a warning first, and only 18% have any meaningful escalation path beyond that. The gap between citation and tow isn’t just a policy problem – it’s a perception problem, a safety problem, and increasingly, a political problem.
The good news is that the industry already knows what it wants. Nearly 50% of parking professionals identify compliance as their top priority, ahead of revenue and efficiency. The industry knows where it wants to go. But wanting compliance and designing for it are two different things.
This piece draws on voices from across the IPMI community, including professionals who are already building programs that are more proportional, more human-centered, and more effective. If you’ve ever asked yourself whether your program’s policies reflect your goals, this is worth a read!
Read the full article in the July/August Parking & Mobility magazine.
Colin Heffron, Jr., is the President of Barnacle Parking. He can be reached at colin@barnacleparking.com.
Forum Question: How should enforcement practices evolve to meet changing public expectations?