A Comprehensive Guide on Self-Ticketing in Parking Management

Effective parking management is essential for landowners and property managers to maintain order and ensure authorised use of their parking spaces. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new car registrations in the UK increased by approximately 2.6 percent in 2024, reaching 1.953 million units. This rise in vehicle numbers, without a corresponding increase in parking facilities, has led to heightened congestion and disorganisation. To mitigate these challenges, it is imperative to develop efficient parking facilities equipped with advanced management solutions that ensure security and provide a seamless experience for both motorists and developers.

One innovative solution that has gained traction is self ticketing—a system that empowers landowners to enforce parking terms and conditions directly. This parking enforcement solution grants landowners and property managers the authority to manage and regulate their parking spaces without relying on external agencies. This system empowers them to issue charges directly to vehicles that breach established parking terms and conditions, such as unauthorised parking or exceeding allotted time limits.

What is Self-Ticketing?

In self-ticketing, landowners or authorised personnel are able to monitor their parking areas and issue Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) to vehicles that are in breach of established terms and conditions. This approach is facilitated through user-friendly applications or platforms provided by parking management companies. By utilising these tools, landowners can discreetly document parking misconduct, such as unauthorised parking or overstaying time limits, and initiate the issuance of PCNs.

The process typically involves the following steps:

1. Documentation: The landowner or authorised individual observes a parking misconduct and uses a smartphone application to capture photographic evidence of

the vehicle.

2. Submission: The evidence, along with relevant details (e.g., time, date, location), is submitted through the app to the parking management company.

3. Processing: The parking management company reviews the submission to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the parking facility and then issues a PCN to the vehicle owner.

This method provides landowners with a proactive tool to manage their parking spaces effectively.

Advantages of Self-Ticketing

Self-ticketing provides numerous advantages to landowners, property managers, and businesses. By allowing direct enforcement of parking terms, self-ticketing ensures better control, cost savings, and improved compliance. Here is a breakdown of the key benefits:

1. Control and Flexibility: This feature provides landowners and property managers direct control over their parking areas, eliminating the need to hire wardens to look after their car park. Through self-ticketing, they are able to enforce parking regulations at their own discretion, ensuring that only authorised vehicles occupy designated spaces.

• Customisable Enforcement: Landowners can establish and enforce specific parking policies tailored to their needs, such as time-limited parking, permit-only access, or customer-exclusive use.
• Faster Response Times: Unlike traditional parking enforcement, which may require external agencies to visit the site periodically, self-ticketing allows for immediate action against individuals breaching parking terms.
• Adaptability: Property managers can update and modify their parking rules as required, such as implementing seasonal or event-based restrictions without requiring
• external approval.

2. Cost-Effectiveness: Landowners or property managers opting for self-ticketing benefit greatly from the cost savings associated with eliminating or reducing the reliance on third-party enforcement agencies.

• No Need for Patrol Services: Traditional parking enforcement often involves hiring attendants or external firms to monitor parking areas. Self-ticketing removes this recurring cost.
• Streamlining Administrative Duties: Parking management companies handling self-ticketing often manage the processing of charges, reducing administrative burdens on the landowner.
• Revenue Generation: The system can also serve as an additional revenue stream for property owners.

3. Anonymity and Safety : A key concern in parking enforcement is the risk of confrontations between unauthorised parkers and enforcers. Self-ticketing ensures that the process remains discreet and secure.

• Confidential Reporting: Self-ticketing reduces the likelihood of conflicts with vehicle owners as the individual issuing the PCN—whether the property manager or an authorised staff—remains anonymous.
• Reduced Confrontation Risks: Since there is no need for direct interaction with unauthorised parkers, the chances of disputes, verbal altercations, or even physical confrontations are minimised.
• Enhanced Security for Businesses: Businesses using self-ticketing can enforce parking terms and conditions without putting their employees at risk of disputes with customers or unauthorised parkers.

4. Immediate Action: The delay in addressing parking misconduct is one of the biggest drawbacks of traditional parking enforcement. With self-ticketing, these misconducts can be addressed in real-time, ensuring a more efficient system.

• Swift Enforcement: Property owners can instantly document and report any parking misconduct, preventing unauthorised vehicles from occupying spaces for extended periods.
• Prevention of Recurring Offenses: When unauthorised parkers see immediate consequences, they are less likely to repeat the misconduct, leading to better compliance over time.
• Improved Traffic Flow: By addressing unauthorised parking promptly, congestion within parking areas is reduced, ensuring smoother traffic movement.

5. Documentation: The self-ticketing system ensures that every parking misconduct is documented systematically as a well-maintained record is crucial for enforcing parking terms and handling disputes.

• Photographic Evidence: Landowners can capture high-resolution images of unauthorised vehicles, including license plates, timestamps, and specific misconducts.
• Digital Recordkeeping: The system maintains a comprehensive history of issued charges, helping property owners track repeated unlawful activities and take further action if necessary.

How Parking Management Companies Facilitate Self-Ticketing

Parking management companies play a pivotal role in implementing self-ticketing systems by offering:

• Technology Platforms: They provide intuitive applications that enable landowners to capture and submit evidence of parking misconduct efficiently.
• Signage and Compliance: Proper signage is essential for enforcing parking rules. These companies supply compliant signage to inform motorists of the parking terms and the potential for enforcement actions.
• Processing and Enforcement: Upon receiving infraction reports, the management company handles the issuance of PCNs, including accessing vehicle owner information through appropriate channels.
• Support and Training: They offer guidance and support to landowners on effectively using the self-ticketing system and understanding legal considerations.

Self-ticketing represents a practical and efficient solution for landowners seeking to manage their parking spaces proactively. By leveraging technology and partnering with experienced parking management companies, landowners can maintain control over their property, ensure compliance with parking terms, and enhance the overall parking experience for authorised users. As urban areas continue to grow and parking demand increases, self-ticketing offers a flexible and effective approach to parking management.