Kim Hannan, a former bartender and downtown ambassador, now makes her rounds on foot as a parking enforcement officer in Norfolk.
She and other parking officers are familiar to many downtown workers and shoppers. Hannan cheerfully calls them "sugar" and "sweetheart" when she sees them on the street.
Still, the woman writes a lot of tickets.
A Virginian-Pilot analysis of parking ticket data in Norfolk during the past 2-1/2 years revealed that Granby Street downtown was the No. 1 location for parking tickets. During that time, 25,083 tickets were written by Hannan and other officers on Granby alone.
"We're doing our job. We're enforcing rules that are set forth by the city," said Hannan, working on Granby and other downtown streets one recent morning. "We're nice people; we're not out to get you. We're not circling around your vehicle."
She's gracious to people who apologetically scramble to move their cars when they see her coming with her hand-held computer. But she has a warning: Don't try to park at a meter without paying.
"We tell them if you are parked for free in Norfolk, you are parked illegally," she said. "There's no free parking in Norfolk."
The Virginian-Pilot collected and examined data from Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach - the three South Hampton Roads cities that issue the majority of parking tickets in the region because of larger urban and tourist areas. Suffolk and Chesapeake issue few parking tickets.
NORFOLK
It's no surprise that downtown streets are saturated with parking tickets, but other hot spots include Norfolk International Airport and Old Dominion University.
Monarch Way, 45th Street and 49th Street are the top ticketed locations near ODU.
At this time of year, however, ODU students get a brief break from the city's 10 parking enforcement officers, said Linda Davis, Norfolk's parking administrator.
Because many students and their parents are unfamiliar with parking restrictions, city officials do -'t think it would be fair to ticket them while students are moving in, Davis said.
The Norfolk data also show that, out of the 193,246 tickets issued from Jan. 1, 2006, to early June of this year:
- 87,598 were for expired meters, and more than 48,000 were for parking in "no parking" zones.
- 10,318 were for failure to move vehicles for street cleaning.
- In the first five months of 2008, 32,889 tickets were issued, down from 33,882 in the first five months of 2007. That's because some parking spaces have been lost to downtown construction, Davis said.
VIRGINIA BEACH
The courthouse led all locations in Virginia Beach in parking tickets issued, followed by streets at the Oceanfront.
There were 4,824 tickets issued at the courthouse, out of 89,866 written between Jan. 1, 2006, and July 31 of this year.
Tickets spike in the Beach in the evening and overnight hours. From 8 to 9 p.m., tickets increase nearly 30 percent from the previous hour because that's when residential restrictions begin at the Oceanfront, said Karen Robinson, a deputy city treasurer. There's another spike between 2 and 3 a.m. because that's when municipal lots close, Robinson said.
In the Beach, 23 parking enforcement employees issue tickets at all hours, joined by police and other agencies.
PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth hired four new part-time parking enforcers who began work in August 2007, and the number of parking tickets issued has more than doubled.
In the first five months of this year, 7,823 tickets were written; in the same period the previous year, 3,745 were issued. "You put more manpower on the street checking for violations, you're going to write more tickets," said Jack Austin, the city's parking superintendent. "It is having a positive impact in creating turnover in the curbside parking areas downtown, which really makes parking more available to customers of downtown businesses."
The Civic Center lot on Water Street is the top spot for citations, accounting for more than 18 percent of the 26,419 tickets issued between Jan. 1, 2006, and the end of May this year. It was followed by Crawford, High, Court and Washington streets in Olde Towne.
Most of Portsmouth's tickets are written by "enforcement technicians" who work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. About 44 percent of tickets were issued from 9 a.m. to noon.
The effort is paying dividends for the city. In 2007, the city averaged $12,000 to $15,000 a month in parking ticket revenue.
Now, the parking authority estimates the city is getting $30,000 a month, more than covering the cost of the part-time workers.
Pilot writer Meghan Hoyer and Pilot news researcher Jakon Hays contributed to this report.
Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com
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clearing up some more myths
Since I am the enforcement officer in this story let me clear a few things up for you!
We DO NOT work on quota's or commission.If that was the case we ALL would of been living in the lap of luxury last week!! We are like any other employee on the job. Boss expects productivity. You saw our numbers, now, if I wrote like 2 tickets in a day, the boss is probably going to wonder what I'm off doing.
Yes lady, I gave my name and let them take my picture. Why wouldn't I? Should I be ashamed of the fact that I work for a living? Not on any assistance. Not standing in some welfare line. Just working.
Throw us off the pier? Nice. Do you people see what we deal with on a regular basis? Do you know me? What are you gonna tell my kid when you throw me off that pier? Your mommy caught me doing something I wasn't supposed to be doing so I offed her? OH, and that yellow chalk sugar? Yeah, that's me..You see chalk you know I have been there!
To the rest of you and your horror stories, it is what is is. If a $15 ticket is the worst thing that has ever happened to you, say thank you!!!
Also, in the city of Norfolk, with a handicap placard, you may park for 2 hours on the meter onl
small town mentality
Norfolk is growning, and yes if you park indowntown you have to pay. Weather you like it or not isn't the questions. The fact is reality! One of the most valuable pieces of real estate you can own, is a free place to park. People have complained about downtown parking forever. They hate to pay for parking in a garage, they hate meters, they hate monthly parking fees, and they hate, and hate, and hate. Reality really must hurt!
defective meters?
True story- the facts: I work in downtown Norfolk and I had a doctor's appt. I had parked my car at the meters in the parking lot at my building putting exactly $2 in it at 9 am because you are only allowed to stay in one spot for 2 hrs. Imagine my suprise when I came out a few minutes to 11 am and found I had a ticket!! But to my surprise, it said my meter had expired an hour before!! So what had happened to the extra hour I had paid for?! Well I contested the ticket and was told I did not have to pay which made me very happy, BUT it gave me a warning! Now why would I have a warning when I had done absolutely nothing wrong but put my $2 in for 2 hr!! Obviously, you don't get what you pay for anymore!!
I know
I know what it costs to park in DC, and Manhattan. I've been to both within the last few months (DC several times). The difference is Norfolk and Hampton Roads are a small region, and don't really matter. We aren't home to wall street, or the nations capital. There aren't earth shattering innovating companies here. On the grand scheme of things, the region has little. So to say we should have the same parking prices as regions "that count" is nutty. I guess emulation is the finest form of flattery but I'll pass on high parking costs.
Cynthian, there are specific
Cynthian, there are specific loading zones on most streets in Downtown Norfolk specifically for people making deliveries and pick ups. I know I am a delivery driver who frequents Downtown Norfolk daily.
Nancic40088, I'm sure that Virginia Beach has laws and officers willing to ticket you for parking in your yard there too. Have fun with that.
I park in Downtown Norfolk all the time. I pay the meter and go on with my life, no big deal to me. You people crack me up.
no free parking
No free parking in the city of Norfolk, no problem. It's just one more reason not to go to Norfolk, for any reason, unless you have to. To bad, so sad.
i suppose...
...that it would be too much trouble to just park leagally and avoid the ticket. Oh, I know, black-and-white, individual responsibility, all that rubbish. Much easier to break the law then whine about it. I love pilotonline blogs. Predictable yet entertaining.
Park In Front Of Home
We do not live in Georgetown, we live in Norfolk. No comparison.
so you have it rough in norfolk
Check into what it cost in Geoegetown to park infront of your own home. No matter how bad it gets, someone else has it worse.
what do delivery people do?
Years ago I drove for a Homecare Equipment company and drove their van. I was asked to deliver a piece of medical equipment to a patient in an office building down there. Of course there is no parking to be found. By the time I jumped out of the van, got the equipment out and delivered it to the patient, I come back and there was already a ticket at the window.
Parking in Norfolk, Ha
OOOhhh, meter people are soooo nice. I'm surprised this woman would do an interview and mention her name.
I avoid downtown Norfolk when I can. That is sad.
Oh Yes There is Free Parking in Downtown Noroflk
In regards to the Enforcement Officers comment about no free parking in downtown Norfolk. That is untrue! If you have a Handi-cap permit you are allowed to park for free at the meters. Shame-Shame-Shame.
Racking up parking charges
Carrien, sorry to hear about your situation. No, I don't think they send you reminders, unfortunately. And if it was your ex that racked up the unpaid parking tickets...ouch! Hate to say it, but it looks like your ex did not care. I have had a similar situation. You think we have it bad here, you should watch the show on A&E called "Parking Wars"..it deals with parking enforcement in Philly. I really don't think parking enforcement is out to get us, but they are enforcing the law and they, like all of us, have a job to do. It's an un-poplular job they have. I wouldn't want their job for anything! I get enough of an earful at my job.
Preying on those trying to better themselves.
I don't know how parking enforcement near ODU can sleep at night.
They are like vultures. Park near the bookstore, pay to park at a meter, stand in line for over an hour to pay for your already insanly expensive text books, come out to find a $30 ticket on your winsheild.
Pay for a parking pass through campus parking office, spend more than $80 and still have to hike 1/2 a mile to class. Tuition goes up every year. Take a class at the Va. Beach Higher Ed. Cntr. to try and save money on your commute, and you have to get a parking pass there too, despite that NEVER is there a lack of parking, they just figure its another way to make money off of your desire to better yourself.
Argue that I could use public transportation... The new Tide light rail won't be up before 2010, will not go to ODU but will stop at EVMS 3 miles from campus. Taking the bus requires way too long to get to where you are going, and the new MAX express routes require driving out of your way to get to the satellite parking. Leniency by ODU is non-existant (except in newspaper stories). I have never seen leniency by ODU parking officials nor by Norfolk Parking enforcement near ODU. Not everyone has a rich m
A losing battle
If you park illegally, you should pay, period.
But there are times when people park legally and are ticketed anyway -- I know from experience with bad signage -- and fighting that is a losing battle.
Revenue City
Parking is an easy way for the cities to make money. If people actually did use mass transit or car pooled, they would be hurting. But then, the cities would figure out a way to charge more for those too to make it up. For those of us that don't have any choice about having to go to these places, it's irritating as all get out having to pay for parking everywhere we go . . .
Learned my lesson!
I went for a job interview several years ago downtown - thought I was parking in a "legal" spot - came out and my vehicle was gone. Poof. I could have only hoped it would have been stolen. Turns out my ex racked up a bunch of parking tickets using my vehicle (don't they send you reminders or a notice or something?) - so, imagine looking for a job & then having to pay $750 (9 or so tix in the system) in parking tickets/fees plus impound plus had to take a cab home. Lord forbid you let the car sit overnight, it racks up more debt. So thankfully I got my vehicle out that day.
When I called the parking people to see if they had my car, her exact words were 'Ooh yeah, we got you honey' it sounded like she hit a goal in and scored. So, unless I can help it - I don't go downtown for anything... heck you even have to pay the MALL! Not in VB!
Parking enforcement
Oh brother...here we go again with all the conspiracy theories, claims, speculations, and rumors. My favorite thus far: "inflicting economic pain and hardship on fellow humans"..I get out my violin!
These guys are out of control
Nickle and dime...... BIG Govt at there best.This is a scam just like speeding tickets. I guess 40% of your moneys not enough 50% or 60%. Fairtax.org
Why Target Granby Street ?
Can anyone tell me why there are no parking meters in front of the stores on Colley Avenue ? Seems to me that those businesses and eateries are being given somewhat of an advantage over those located on Granby Street. Why is that ?