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City: Cameras may be put on DPT cars
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City officials have been looking at ways to protect parking enforcement officers after a recent string of violence directed at them. In one incident, an officer sustained a concussion and a dislocated shoulder.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A recent string of violence against parking enforcement officers could lead to their cars being equipped with security cameras.
City officials have been looking at ways to protect parking officers after four were assaulted in November. In one of those incidents, an officer who was repeatedly punched by an angry driver who was ticketed suffered a concussion and a dislocated shoulder. A week later, another officer was spit upon after issuing a ticket.
The head of the Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees parking enforcement, said The City is in the preliminary stages of reviewing the addition of cameras to parking enforcement officer’s vehicles to document any violence.
“Unfortunately we have an element of this society that gets frustrated when they get a ticket, but there are ways to deal with the situation other than assaulting a [parking enforcement officer],” said Nathaniel Ford, executive director of the MTA.
There have been about 30 officers assaulted this year, according to Ford, compared to 17 last year. There are more than 23,000 parking meters in The City, according to the agency, and about 10,000 parking citations are issued each year.
The cameras would be similar to ones already mounted on California Highway Patrol vehicles, Ford said.
Several cities in Europe, such as London, already use similar systems. Parking officers in London are given security escorts in dangerous parts of the city. In Scotland, the attacks decreased after cameras were installed, while London is looking for other ways to combat the violence.
The cost of outfitting the vehicles is still unknown because the proposal is still being studied, according to Ford.
In January, the agency plans to launch a public service campaign to warn angry drivers that the agency will seek every legal avenue to punish anyone who hurts officers. Ford and District Attorney Kamala Harris recently attended the court hearing of a woman who allegedly sat on an officer, causing her to suffer a concussion, after she was issued a ticket.
In addition to the cameras, Ford said the agency is looking at three other measures to protect its parking enforcement officers, including issuing pepper spray. The agency is also working with state Assemblyman Mark Leno to make it a felony to assault parking enforcement officers in any way, according to Ford. It would be the same protection given to police officers and other peace officers.
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:51 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008 re: "City: Cameras may be put on DPT cars"
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2:30 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 23, 2007
re: "Risk of attack may deter officers from writing tickets, union says"
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Examiner Reader said:
Just because you put on a uniform doesn't mean you will uphold the law. We all know nobody is perfect. I totally agree with the earlier response that some "metermaids" do provoke the violence. Their never nice, nor do they ever care. And sometimes they don't even do their freaken job. One example, I received a violation ticket for parking parallel on the side walk. I provided enough room for pedestrians to walk, but yet I still got a ticket. I know its states you can't park parallel, but when asked why my neighbor didn't receive a ticket for parking perpendicular which obstructed the sidewalk in which nobody was able to walk through, I was told it was because his driveway is built as part of his house. None of what they said made sense...Yes, thats what they said..If your driveway is built so you have to park perpendicular then its ok to park, eventhough it obstructs the walkway. Now I know why the metermaids are encapsuled in a box-fear that people will throw tomatoes at t
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Examiner Reader said:
These meter maid officers are not all innocent, they provoke most situations, they cause the fights! "We" the victims of these workers need help too. The City of San Francisco need to check their employees!! They act tough when their in their uniforms because they think they can do anything!! Thats why these situations happen! Many of these so called attacks are not "ATTACKS" at all toward the person in the uniform, but the personality of the person wearing it!!! I'm not condoning violence, but I've seen some city workers doing their jobs under false pretences...just to meet a certain quota for the day/week/month...there are many city workers....not working at all....in other neighborhoods....buying drugs...."We" the people of San Francisco need to get together and find a solution against these city workers who are not what they stand for when wearing the "uniform"!!!!
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