In metropolitan areas and small cities in the United States, parking regulations are made to keep the environment safe and comfortable to live in. Illegally parked cars can block passing emergency personnel and create traffic jams. Reporting an illegally parked vehicle is a good deed. Gather as much information as possible about the car, as well as where it was parked. In most locations, you can report online or over the phone.
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Method 1 of 3: Gathering Information
Step 1. Write down the make, model, color and license plate of the vehicle
Recording vehicle information can help law enforcement locate the car in question. If the license plate comes from outside the city, note the city from which it is located.
- You may also have to check if the plate is still valid. There are several cities that have different regulations for illegally parked vehicles with expired license plates.
- If the vehicle does not have a license plate, write down the information. In most cities, you are not allowed to park on the street unless the vehicle has a license plate. A missing license plate can also indicate that the vehicle was dumped by its owner.
Step 2. Take photos of illegally parked vehicles
If you wish to report this violation online, you may be able to submit the photo to law enforcement. Having photos as evidence can make it easier for them to find the location of the vehicle.
- Taking a photo of a license plate is an easy way to get accurate information and pass it on to law enforcement, even if you can't submit the original photo.
- If the car is parked next to a dead parking meter, or in a no-parking area, try to include a no-no sign in the photo you take.
Step 3. Find out the exact position of the vehicle
In most cases, a clear street address will suffice. However, you may not know the name of the street where the violation took place. If this happens, note the name of the street and the nearest block from where the car was parked.
- Also note where the car is located. In some countries, this is determined according to the cardinal directions. You can also note which way the car is facing.
- For example, you could write “The car was illegally parked in a special disabled parking space located south of the UGM Sports Building, between Jalan Kenari and Jalan Kebogiro.”
Step 4. Enter the date and time of the observation
Regardless of whether you fill out a report online or by phone, you should contact the parking manager when you see a car that is not parked properly. This information can help determine if the car is indeed a violation, as well as match your report with other reports.
- For example, in some cities, commercial vehicles are not allowed to park overnight in residential areas. A car parked in a residential area at 4 pm is not a violation, while if it is parked at 4 am it is a violation.
- If the car has been there for several days, chances are someone else has reported it. Parking managers will prioritize handling violations that have been reported by many people.
Step 5. Read local parking regulations
Unless the violation is clear (e.g. the car is parked in front of the sign “no parking”), you will need to check the regulations in force to determine if the car was parked illegally.
- For example, some cities may not allow cars to occupy a parking area for more than 3 days. If you see a car that has been parked for 2 days, you will need to wait another day before making a report.
- If you find a specific regulatory violation, write it down in your report. The parking manager may react more quickly if you report what caused the car to be parked illegally.
Step 6. Record the condition of the vehicle
If the vehicle is damaged, does not have an official number plate, or appears to be unfit for the road, the object may be disposed of by the owner instead of parked. The procedure for reporting a discarded vehicle may differ.
- Identifying the condition of the car in detail will also help parking managers find the vehicle in question.
- Note if the vehicle has the characteristics of a victim of vandalism, such as broken glass or missing wheels.
Method 2 of 3: Generate Reports Online
Step 1. Look for an online report form
In most cities, especially in large cities, you can report illegal parking online via a simple report form. Search for “report illegal parking” along with the name of your city and see the search results that appear on the internet.
Make sure the website you find is an official website before submitting a report. Most government-owned websites in major cities end in “.gov” or “.us.” If you're not sure, look for the “About Us” page
Step 2. Complete the report form completely
Some types of forms allow you to select information, while others require you to describe the report descriptively. Enter as much information as you have. More specific information will help officers find illegally parked vehicles more quickly.
At the very least, you must include a description of the car along with its location. You must also enter the date and time of the testimony. If you have observed the vehicle from afar, enter this information as well
Step 3. Include contact information to monitor reports generated
Even if you are allowed to report illegal parking anonymously via the internet, contact information is still needed so that officers can ask you questions or want to provide status updates on the report.
Some countries require that you use an active email address when filling out online reports
Step 4. Use social media to collect reports
Some cities have Twitter and Facebook accounts dedicated to parking managers. You can report illegal parking by sending messages to these accounts.
- During regular business hours, reports of illegal parking via social media may be responded to more quickly.
- Keep in mind that you may not get an immediate response with this method, especially if you fill out reports in the evenings or on weekends. The parking manager's social media accounts may only be active during regular business hours.
Method 3 of 3: Reporting via Phone Call
Step 1. Contact the parking manager
In many large cities, the parking management department has its own telephone number. Calling this number usually allows your report to be processed faster.
- Search for “parking managers” with your city name to find the phone number online. If your city has an information center, you can call the place to contact the parking manager.
- If your city does not have its own parking management department, call the police station's non-emergency services. Do not call emergency numbers if no lives are in danger.
Step 2. Speak directly to a parking representative, if possible
Parking attendants may not be on standby 24/7. However, if you call during business hours, you can usually speak to a representative for the department.
- Talking to the clerk in person is much more efficient. You can provide information directly and if they have additional questions, you can answer them right away.
- You may also be able to find out when violators will be prosecuted. This is especially important if the vehicle affects you personally, such as blocking the driveway to your house or parking in front of your shop.
Step 3. Send a voice message with clear information
If the officer representative cannot be reached directly, you can usually send a voice message with complete information about the vehicle you wish to report.
- Provide as many specific details as possible and speak in a clear, loud voice.
- Some cities may allow you to report anonymously. Include your name and phone number, or email address, if you want to know how your report is progressing.
Step 4. Follow up on your report
Parking management officers usually respond to reports in the order they were entered, then try to resolve them within 3 days. If your report is not responded to, please contact the parking manager again.
- Even if you didn't speak to the parking representative in person on the first try, try calling again when requesting follow-up information on the violation. Include the case number, if your report has been previously responded to.
- If you don't get a response from the parking operator's phone number, you can try contacting the nearest police station via a non-emergency phone number.
