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Parking Enforcement Workers

People classed as Parking Enforcement Workers patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles. Its interest code is RCE. Realistic leads at 6.4 out of 7, so expect hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, with Conventional next at 5.1. The preparation level is some preparation, typically a few months to a year of learning on the job. O*NET’s skill data points to speaking, monitoring, and time management as the ones to build. You may also need to enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.

What they do

Patrol assigned area, such as public parking lot or city streets to issue tickets to overtime parking violators and illegally parked vehicles.

Main tasks

  • Enter and retrieve information pertaining to vehicle registration, identification, and status, using hand-held computers.
  • Maintain close communications with dispatching personnel, using two-way radios or cell phones.
  • Patrol an assigned area by vehicle or on foot to ensure public compliance with existing parking ordinance.
  • Identify vehicles in violation of parking codes, checking with dispatchers when necessary to confirm identities or to determine whether vehicles need to be booted or towed.
  • Write warnings and citations for illegally parked vehicles.
  • Appear in court at hearings regarding contested traffic citations.

Skills

  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Time Management
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Listening

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on speaking and monitoring.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCE takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Also called

  • Meter Maid
  • Parking Control Officer
  • Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO)
  • Parking Enforcement Technician (Parking Enforcement Tech)
  • Parking Enforcer

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.