Parking attendant

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A parking attendant vehicle in San Francisco.

A parking attendant is a member of a traffic control department or agency who issues tickets for parking violations. In America, they are sometimes known as meter maids, a gender specific term for female attendants. They are also officially titled Parking Enforcement Officer, Parking Enforcement Agent, Parking Enforcement Technician, and the like.

They are employed by local authorities in the UK with Decriminalised Parking Enforcement powers under the Road Traffic Act 1991 and have the power to issue a Penalty Charge Notice to any vehicle which is in a position that it shouldn't be. In Northern Ireland they enforce using powers under the Traffic Management (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 and are known as Traffic Attendants. UK parking attendants normally patrol on foot, however some also use cars or mopeds, particularly in larger areas.

In pop culture, the term is best known for the Beatles' song Lovely Rita, in which the male singer, smitten with Rita, recalls:

Standing by a parking meter, when I caught a glimpse of Rita

Filling in a ticket in her little white book.

In a cap she looked much older,

And the bag across her shoulder

Made her look a little like a military man.

The United States Department of Labor classifies this job as a "meter attendant" in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. It is classification number 375.587-010.

[edit] In Australia

Meter Maids in Surfers Paradise. Photo by Raffi Kojian.

The Surfers Paradise Meter Maids were introduced to the world in 1965 with a positive spin on parking regulations. Instead of issuing tickets for expired parking, the Meter Maids dispensed coins into the meter and left a calling card under the windscreen wiper of the vehicle.

Initially introduced as a countermeasure against the unpopularity of parking meters installed the previous year, the Maids are known for their gold bikini outfits and (now defunct) tiaras.

Standard ticket-issuing parking attendants still exist, but the Gold Coast City Council is phasing out traditional meters in favour of streetside ticket-issuing machines.

[edit] Traffic wardens

In the UK, traffic wardens are employed by police forces. Parking attendants are employed by local authorities (local councils). Parking attendants have fewer powers than traffic wardens. P.A's can only book on lines and signs whereas wardens can also book vehicles for causing an obstruction. New laws introduced in September 2006 mean both traffic wardens and parking attendants are now able to demand inspection of disabled badges. Refusal to allow such an inspection carries a fine of up to £1000.