In an effort to crack down on highly congested streets, the D.C. Council is considering a bill that would allow business groups, universities and event organizers to hire off-duty parking-enforcement officers to patrol around their properties.
The bill, introduced by Ward 1 council member Brianne Nadeau, would allow the Department of Public Works to let officers work as a reimbursable detail for eligible organizations, which would pay the department for the time served.
The model mirrors the District’s arrangement with the Metropolitan Police Department allowing businesses to hire police officers.
“In addition to keeping our streets calmer and safer,” Nadeau said, “these arrangements will allow us to improve parking enforcement in hot spots and congested areas and ensure that the parking system enables a rotation of vehicles in and out of commercial neighborhoods like it’s designed to.”
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Campus and special police officers would also be allowed to work as part of the reimbursable details, but only in and around their jurisdiction. The bill overrides a regulation that prevents some campus and special police departments from enforcing city parking restrictions, Nadeau said.
The bill drew pushback from At-Large council member Robert White, who said residents aren’t as worried about parking enforcement as they are about how much parking tickets cost.
“I hear so frequently from residents that they are just being killed by the number and size of parking fees,” White said. “I continue to be concerned that the city uses tickets as a source of revenue rather than safety and fidelity of laws.”
Ward 4 council member Janeese Lewis George echoed White’s concern, saying the reimbursement detail model should have been tested before being signed into law.
“I would love for us to have piloted it first before moving forward with permanent legislation,” she said, “and I think that’s probably the most prudent thing that we should do, and so my lack of support is because I think this does deserve a little more testing.”
The bill passed its first reading with seven “yes” votes and three “no” votes from White, Lewis George and Ward 7 council member Wendell Felder.
At-Large council member Christina Henderson and Ward 5 council member Zachary Parker voted “present.” Ward 8 council member Trayon White was absent.
The second reading and final vote of the bill are expected to take place in October.
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