Fairfield to Implement New Parking Technology Friday

Starting Friday, Fairfield will launch a new parking management system to facilitate the issuing and payment of daily parking tickets for commuters and staff. 

Fairfield police and special police assigned to the Parking Authority will begin using parking ticket handheld units Friday to patrol the downtown area and the Fairfield Center and Southport commuter parking lots, according to a Parking Authority release.

The goals of using the new technology are to increase parking turnover, allow for better tracking of permits, and automate the day parking tickets issued at at the commuter lots.

The Parking Authority is working in conjunction with Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) to roll out the new system. The Tarrytown, NY-based company currently provides parking management services to 15 other Connecticut municipalities, according to the release.

As part of the multi-year contract with Fairfield, CDI will provide the handheld units for parking enforcement, tracking software, and reminder services. The contract also includes a complete data conversion from the current system, training, customer service, and web-based parking ticket payments.

In addition to better managing parking enforcement downtown and at the Fairfield Center and Southport commuter parking lots, the new system will allow commuters to pay for both parking violations and day tickets online via credit card or PayPal and by mail without a convenience fee if the tickets are paid within 10 days of being issued.

“We heard from many commuters that paying by credit card was a desired convenience, so this allows us to make the parking experience a little easier while saving our parking staff time and money issuing tickets every day,” Mary Kay Frost, Chair of the Parking Authority, said.

“We were impressed by CDI’s experience in Connecticut and the technology they offered at no upfront cost to the town,” Frost added.

Also starting Friday, a new daily ticket will be issued. The ticket is designed for easier reading and issuing, according to the release. Later in 2013, the Parking Authority and CDI will partner to provide an easier renewal and waiting list process for annual permits.

For more information, visit the Parking Authority page on the town website.