The Citation Isn’t the Customer Service

Enforcement and service can happen at the same time.

A parking citation may be necessary. The bad experience that sometimes comes with it isn’t.

Parking professionals have an important job: protecting access, enforcing regulations, and making sure limited parking resources are used fairly. Enforcement is what we do. Professionalism is how we do it.

Someone may not be happy about receiving a citation, but that doesn’t mean the interaction has to become negative. A clear explanation matters. A respectful tone matters. Consistency matters. Helping someone understand where they can park next time matters.

We don’t have to choose between accountability and customer service. We can do both.

In fact, some of our best opportunities to demonstrate professionalism happen when we’re telling someone something they don’t want to hear.

The goal isn’t to make everyone happy. The goal is to make every interaction professional, fair, and helpful.

That’s Positive Parking.

Park Positive. Impact Lives.

Chief Matt
Founder, Center for Positive Parking