Parking Enforcement

Policy & Procedures                 No. 1.25
                                  Subject:
                 Parking Enforcement
                                  Issuing Authority:                                       Effective Date:   Review Date:
                     Chief of Police                       01/01/2014   11/30/2023
                                                                                 References:

 Review
 Revision   2/17/2016
 Reissued   11/19/19
 Dates:

CALEA STANDARDS:
61.1.13
41.4.5
                  POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Parking control activities are essential to the safe and efficient movement of vehicles and
pedestrians.  All sworn officers of the Canton Police Department shall be responsible for
parking enforcement activities throughout the community. This policy is established to provide
guidelines for the parking enforcement activities of the Canton Police Department officers.

PROCEDURES

I.    TRAINING:
      During the Canton Police Department FTO program, all newly hired police offices will
       receive training in the enforcement of parking rules and regulations.

II.   PARKING ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES   61.1.13

      A.    At the beginning of each shift, officers shall obtain parking violation books when
               necessary. When a parking violation is located, a “Parking Violation Notice”
                shall be placed on the windshield of the offending motor vehicle.  If a citizen
               requests an appeal on a ticket, they should be referred to the appeal process which
                  is typed on the front of the ticket. There are some circumstances in which a
               violation may be voided immediately after being issued by the Officer; for
             example, when the violator shows a handicapped placard which had not been
                 initially visible to the officer. In all such instances, the officer shall provide to the
             Chief of Police all copies of the ticket upon request.

       B.     Officers have discretion and shall enforce the parking laws and bylaws with
              reasonableness and impartiality in all areas of the community. 41.4.5

        Canton Policy Department’s Parking Enforcement Policy                Page 1

The Shift Supervisor may, as needed, assign an officer to enforce the parking
       regulations with special emphasis on enforcement of violations in the Town’s
       parking lots and center and surrounding area streets. However, no section of this
       policy is intended to limit the parking enforcement activities to any one area of
       the Town. Violations which shall be enforced include:

        1.     Parking on sidewalks
        2.     Parking in crosswalks
        3.     Parking/obstructing a lane of travel (double parking)
        4.     Parking and blocking a driveway or private way
        5.     Parking in a posted loading zone
        6.     Parking in a fire lane
        7.     Parking in a handicap parking space without a permit
        8.     Parking/obstructing a fire hydrant
        9.     Parking in a posted “no parking, no standing, or tow” zone
       10.    Parking in the wrong direction
       11.    Parking which obstructs the removal of snow/ice
       12.    Parking in violation of the Town of Canton Winter Parking Ban
       13.    Parking within an intersection
       14.    Other parking violations not specified herein

     NOTE: In lieu of a ticket, an officer can ask the operator/owner to move the
                vehicle.

               All motor vehicles towed should be met with the approval of the Shift
              Supervisor and all requests to tow a vehicle will be done through him/her.

               Officers are reminded to complete an inventory form when needed Refer
               to Canton Police Department Policy #5.01, Motor Vehicle Inventory.

C.    At the end of each shift, all tickets shall be placed in the Chief’s Administrative
      box so that those tickets can be forwarded to the Parking Clerk’s Office at Town
        Hall.

D.    At NO TIME shall any member of this Department take monies (neither cash nor
       check) for the payment of a parking violation. All citizens should be referred to
       the Town of Canton Clerk’s Office to make such payments.

  Canton Policy Department’s Parking Enforcement Policy                Page 2