Parking Enforcement Industry News and Announcements

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) has helped the City of Poughkeepsie increase their parking ticket revenue significantly since implementing FastTrack™, their industry-leading parking ticket management system in July of 2009.

In just the first 5 months of 2010 alone, the City collected more parking ticket revenue than they had averaged annually. At this pace, full year parking ticket revenue for 2010 is projected to increase over 200%. During this period, ticket issuance has remained fairly steady, with increased revenue due mainly to CDI collecting a higher percentage of both backlog violations and newly issued tickets compared to the previous system. As part of the multi-year contract with the City, CDI is providing handheld ticket writers for parking enforcement and tracking software including training, maintenance and support at no additional cost. Nationwide DMV lookups, delinquent noticing and web-based parking ticket payments for violators are also included as part of the all-inclusive fee.

“The CDI system was an upgrade that made sense to the City both technologically and in its potential to help us cut costs and generate revenue,” said Assistant Corporation Counsel Paul Ackerman. Chief of Police Ronald Knapp added, “CDI helped our Department upgrade to new state of the art parking enforcement technology without adding additional costs for annual maintenance and support contracts.”

“Poughkeepsie looked to CDI to help increase collection rates and generate revenue,” stated Chief Operating Officer Stephen Hittman. “We are proud of our results thus far on this project and extremely pleased they chose our solution.”

About Complus Data Innovations Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

With just the touch of a screen, public service officers can now issue and print out parking tickets. All of the information on that ticket is then sent from the hand held ticket writer to a database, storing not only the details of the violation, but also which officer issued the ticket.

"There are parts of the system that we hope to be able to use to address the issue of accountability around what was happening in the past," says City Treasurer Kathy Sheehan.

It's the city's latest step towards transparency after last year's ghost ticket scandal. More than 200 people, including police officers and their spouses, were on a VIP list that ensured no-fine parking tickets. The city has since done away with that list. And now, the department says the electronic ticket system will make sure there is no discretion when tickets are issued.

"We want to make sure people understand that when you come to this city or you live in this, there is one system and it offers an even playing field for everyone," says Acting Albany Police Chief Steven Krokoff.

A system the everyday driver says is only fair.

"Absolutely," Thornton says. "Why should it be any different."

A new citywide system for issuing parking tickets and collecting fines has taken effect, effectively bringing to a close a parking-ticket scandal that plagued City Hall for months after it was reported that special parking privileges were given to people with connections, officials said Tuesday.

The new high-tech system intends "to enhance transparency and improve enforcement of the city's parking regulations," Treasurer Kathy Sheehan, who oversees the Parking Violations Bureau, and acting Police Chief Steven Krokoff announced in a statement. The new procedures are "fully operational," they said.

At the core is a software system that "links computerized handheld ticket writers directly to our collections database," Sheehan said. "This allows us to track every ticket from the time it is written until it is ultimately paid or dismissed. New safeguards also allow us to protect against unauthorized changes."

The Police Department and its officers' union came under fire for so-called ghost tickets. In 2008, the newspaper reported on the longtime practice of secret tickets containing "bull's-eye" stickers -- carrying no monetary penalties -- issued to private vehicles of city police, spouses, friends and city-employed civilians. These stickers were placed on windshields so vehicles could park on city streets without fines or penalties.

Records showed a total of 57,450 ghost or voided tickets over the last eight years amounting to $4 million in lost revenue, the Times Union reported. Then-Treasurer Betty Barnett came under fire during an investigation into the ticket irregularities, and she lost her bid for re-election last year.

The Police Department and Sheehan's office worked with the Albany Parking Authority "to evaluate our options for parking enforcement," Krokoff said in the statement. Complus Data Innovations was selected for "depth of experience, as well as integrating (its) parking ticket management systems in municipalities, particularly in New York state."

Besides providing enhanced audit capabilities, the system has automated collection notices for delinquent unpaid tickets.

"We expect to see a significant increase in collections over the next several months," Sheehan said. The Westchester County software company "has demonstrated collections of up to 96 percent for newly issued tickets and up to 80 percent for backlogged, unpaid tickets," she said.

Complus is not a collection agency, she stressed. "We will continue to adjudicate and enforce our own tickets, but with our new enhanced database, we will be better able to pursue enforcement efforts, particularly against scofflaws."

Complus provides handheld ticket writers, which include bar code scanners to be used by parking enforcement officers, allowing them to scan state registration stickers. The city is working with the Parking Authority to provide scanning capability on parking meters, which will also reduce data entry.

"In addition to improving productivity, our new handhelds should enhance our enforcement capabilities," Krokoff said. "Each ticket writer has built in imaging capability, which allows us to capture up to three digital images of a violation. While not all violations require digital imaging, a picture of a blocked driveway or fire hydrant will assist in any additional court proceedings."

The city installed and started testing the new software system at the end of March, and the handheld ticket writers went into service last Friday, the officials said. The Parking Violations Bureau will provide quarterly reports to the Common Council of the number of tickets issued, fines collected and tickets dismissed, they said.

At the direction of Mayor Jerry Jennings, the city's Law Department, working with police officials, Sheehan's office and the Parking Authority, issued a request for proposals last August for municipal parking management services and related equipment. In February, Complus was awarded the contract as the most qualified bidder and began working with city officials.

The software company has worked with Saratoga Springs on ticket collections since 2007.

Jennings recognized Assistant Corporation Counsel Michelina Wojton for her work, with others, on the contract "which we believe will bring transparency and effective management to the parking violation and collection process."

The city of Albany is tightening enforcement of its parking ticket system with the help of a new software program that is expected to more closely track tickets that are issued and ultimately boost revenue collections.

The program, by Complus Data Innovations, tracks every ticket from the time it is written until it is ultimately paid or dismissed through a computerized database, according to city treasurer Kathy Sheehan. The new system also automates collection notices for delinquent unpaid tickets.

Parking enforcement officers will be issued new handheld ticket writers that include bar code scanners connected to the New York State vehicle registry, which is expected to reduce manual data entry.

The handhelds will also have a built-in camera that allows officers to capture up to three digital images of a violation.

"While not all violations require digital imaging, a picture of a blocked driveway or fire hydrant will assist in any additional court proceedings," said Acting Police Chief Steven Krokoff.

"We expect to see a significant increase in collections over the next several months," noted Sheehan. "Complus has extensive experience in municipalities throughout New York and has demonstrated collections of up to 96 percent newly issued tickets and up to 80 percent for backlogged, unpaid tickets."

Complus was awarded the contract for the city's parking management services in February as the most qualified bidder, according to Sheehan.

The city installed and started testing the new software system at the end of March, and placed the new handheld ticket writers into service on April 23.

The Parking Violations Bureau will provide quarterly reports to the Common Council of the number of tickets issued, fines collected and tickets dismissed.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, is proud to announce the release of a new service. CDI recently installed new Casio IT-3100 handheld ticket writers with integrated magnetic card readers to accept credit card payments for tow-eligible vehicles in the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

This feature enables City parking enforcement officers (PEOs) to process delinquent ticket payments for tow-eligible vehicles in the field. Prior to this implementation, the City’s PEOs had to carry separate credit card processing equipment to accept these types of payments. Customers with 4 or more unpaid parking tickets to the City of Ann Arbor that are eligible to be towed can now pay the unpaid tickets with a credit card on the PEO’s handheld through the attached magnetic card reader. The customer can then sign for the payment on the handheld’s touch screen and receive a printed receipt from the same device.

The City of Ann Arbor also utilizes CDI’s industry-first interface with Digital Payment Technologies’ pay by space meters, allowing officers to toggle between pay by space information, ticket issuance and credit card payments all on the same Casio handheld device.

“Ann Arbor wanted their officers to be able to process payments for tow-eligible vehicles in the field without carrying additional equipment,” said Stephen Hittman, Chief Operating Officer. “This functionality, combined with the Digital interface on the handheld, has allowed PEOs to be even more efficient and also offer customers the opportunity to avoid costly towing and impound fees.”

About Complus Data InnovationsComplus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, proudly introduces another industry-first technology. CDI is now offering clients in the State of Massachusetts the ability to scan vehicle inspection stickers using CDI proprietary software with their handheld ticket writers. Massachusetts recently began the practice of utilizing barcodes on their vehicle inspection stickers as part of a major overhaul to the State’s Vehicle Check Program.

Scanning the barcode on an inspection sticker allows an enforcement officer to gather vehicle information for parking ticket issuance quickly and more efficiently. Clients benefit by eliminating data entry and keypunch errors during data capture. In addition, a client’s parking enforcement officers will become more productive as less time is needed during the citation issuance process. On a whole, by increasing accuracy and productivity, CDI is helping Massachusetts clients to collect more revenue from this process.

CDI has the most extensive client base in Massachusetts and the Northeastern United States of any parking ticket management company in the industry and they have been offering clients barcode scanning of New York State registration stickers for over 15 years. When Massachusetts decided to implement a similar process with their vehicle inspection stickers, CDI quickly responded to their client’s requests to offer a similar service.

“Our clients have had great success and fewer ticket issuance errors over the years by using barcode scanning in New York, so this is the next logical step,” said Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “As parking enforcement technology continues to evolve, so will CDI.”

About Complus Data InnovationsComplus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Drivers hit with parking tickets in the City of Poughkeepsie no longer have to pay their fines in person at city hall, or through the mail.

In a program city officials believe could be the first of its kind in Dutchess County, drivers can now pay their parking fines online. Those who choose that option will be charged a $3.50 per ticket "convenience fee" on top of their fines.

The new system, which debuted two weeks ago, is designed to make it more convenient for drivers to pay their tickets. Officials also hope it increases revenue from parking tickets - many of which go unpaid.

"We are enhancing technologies throughout city hall to be able to provide more user-friendly opportunities," Mayor John Tkazyik said. "This is one opportunity for people to take advantage of."

Tkazyik said no one has used the new online payment system yet, but he hopes drivers will as word about the program spreads.

Drivers interviewed outside the post office near city hall had mixed reactions to the online option.

Former Poughkeepsie resident Julie Murray, visiting from North Carolina, said she would likely pay parking tickets by mail - and save $3.50.

"I would probably go the old-fashioned way," Murray said.

City resident Jim Poonjani said he would use the online system, noting problems could arise for drivers if payments are lost in the mail.

"It's more convenient," Poonjani said of electronic payment.

Tkazyik said the city is working with ParkingTicketPayment.com, which is run by Tarrytown-based Complus Data Innovations. Under the arrangement, Tkazyik said the city will pay the company 12.5 percent of ticket revenue generated through the online system.

According to the company, the service allows drivers to pay parking tickets "over a secure Web site with most major credit cards. Once payments are processed ... records at the City of Poughkeepsie will be updated accordingly, in real time, and your parking tickets will be marked as paid."

The online payment method is one of several city initiatives over the past year designed to bolster revenues and crack down on parking ticket scofflaws.

An amnesty program for parking scofflaws was offered last fall as the city forgave accumulated late fees on unpaid violations. Officials estimated more than $100,000 was collected as drivers paid their initial fines.

Before the amnesty began, officials said Poughkeepsie was owed more than $1 million in unpaid parking tickets from the previous several years.

Officials last year also announced police would aggressively target vehicles owned by drivers with six or more unpaid parking tickets. Police use a portable license plate scanner to identify scofflaw vehicles on city streets and in municipal parking lots. Such vehicles are then impounded.

The Common Council last year hiked administrative fees for such violations from $50 to $75. Storage costs for impounded cars were increased from $10 to $20 per day.

Meanwhile, the mayor said the city is exploring other ways technology can make life easier for residents.

Tkazyik said officials are working on programs that would eventually allow residents to pay water, sewer and tax bills online as well.

Ramped-up efforts to issue parking tickets in Binghamton have led to a nearly 50 percent jump in citations this year. Figures provided by the city show 8,329 tickets were issued in the first five months of the year, compared with 5,624 during the same time last year.

New this year are hand-held digital ticket writers, purchased by the city in hopes the speedy devices would increase parking revenue. Mayor Matthew T. Ryan credited the gadgets for the boost in ticket-writing.

"It's clear that Complus has improved parking enforcement city-wide," Ryan said.

Those ticketed probably aren't happy, but for Binghamton, which is facing a budget crunch and approaching a state cap on the amount it can charge its residents in property taxes, any increase in revenue is welcome.

The city had collected $179,055 in parking fines as of May 31 and is on track to exceed last year's collections, which totaled $311,484. Those amounts correspond to fines collected in a particular time period, not those tickets written during that time. Most parking violations carry fines between $20 and $40.

While city spokesman Andrew Block said enforcing parking regulations, improving traffic flow and keeping vital parking spaces open for businesses was the ultimate goal, he acknowledged the cash isn't bad either.

"It's part of a total effort (to enforce parking laws), and it does bring in additional revenues, which is a benefit," Block said.

Parking enforcement officers have scored heavily downtown, where most of the city's parking meters are situated. Jim Delaney, owner of Chenango Point Cycles on Susquehanna Street, said enforcement has soared since the Binghamton University Downtown Center opened in 2006. At least three cars outside his establishment were ticketed Monday for expired meters.

New York-based Complus Data Innovations has provided the city with five hand-held parking ticket scanners, software and technical support in exchange for 12.5 percent of every fine collected. City officials said they believed the devices, which spit out tickets in about 15 seconds, would more than pay for themselves.

But other issues seem to be at work, as well. Closure of the subterranean garage at Government Plaza has driven hundreds of government workers onto surface lots and parking ramps.

The city employs two parking enforcement officers, one full time and the other part time. Both are outfitted with the new devices.

Parking officer Tom Ryder said the Complus system is much faster delivering tickets. But he thought other factors, such as the closure of government plaza's garage, were more responsible for the large increase in tickets.

"There's a lot more cars that are sitting around because they can't go in there," Ryder said.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, has implemented their fully outsourced solution in the City of Duluth, MN and the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD). This move was prompted when St. Louis County, MN (who had formerly processed the parking tickets) gave the City and University one year’s notice to find another option for ticket processing.

In the spring of 2008, St. Louis County informed all of the area police departments and cities that they would soon stop handling parking ticket processing. While this decision would impact 24 local cities and colleges, 9 out of every 10 parking tickets in the County were issued in the City of Duluth or at UMD. After reviewing different options for handheld ticket writers and back end services, the City of Duluth and UMD chose CDI to provide their full service parking ticket management solution. For both agencies, the CDI solution includes handheld ticket writers with integrated printers and image capture, tracking software, nationwide DMV lookups, delinquent noticing, payment processing, data entry of handwritten tickets, and online payments for violators.

“CDI was a cost-effective and comprehensive solution. There were zero up front costs to the City, and maintenance and support are included. That combined with CDI’s ability to improve our collections helped us to choose the Complus program,” said Lieutenant Robin Roeser of the Duluth Police Department. Lt. Roeser added, “CDI provides the hardware, the software and the ticket processing functions that St. Louis County used to provide. Now we have one vendor for everything.”

About Complus Data Innovations Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Saugus - A plan is in the works to contract with a private company to collect tens of thousands of dollars in outstanding parking ticket revenue.

Article 22 on the Town Meeting warrant requests authorization to pay a company to collect fines for parking tickets issued in town.

WELLESLEY - Wellesley's 10 worst parking-ticket offenders have one thing in common, according to town records. None actually live in Wellesley.

Wellesley’s parking clerk, Bonita Legassie, and her team gave out more than 25,000 parking tickets last year. The men and women who owe the most — anywhere from almost $2,000 to $600, according to a list provided by Legassie — are not residents, but people who work in town, Legassie said. Their records show some of them have been collecting parking tickets in town for almost 15 years.

“Believe it or not, it’s either store merchants or [their] employees,” Legassie said. “Many of these are hairdressers.”

In fiscal 2008, Wellesley raked in more than a half-million dollars from parking tickets alone. That number doesn’t include the money the town gets from all the change put into the various parking meters around town. In January, more than 1,900 tickets were issued. For this fiscal year, the town is looking to get more than $500,000 again in parking tickets.

“We have a really good team of parking attendants,” Legassie said. “They are very well trained and do their job well. They have to constantly keep traffic moving all the time.”

From Jan. 1, 2008, to Dec. 31, 2008, 27,174 parking tickets were issued. Of those, 16,757 were paid on time while 6,599 were paid late and 2,189 remain unpaid, according to data from Complus Data Innocations Inc., the company that compiles the town’s parking violation information.

Five parking meter attendants patrol downtown Wellesley and the other metered areas in town. Holding handheld machines, they can easily give a ticket by simply putting in the car’s information and pressing print. Parking meter attendant Patrick Ryan said in a normal day, he gives out around 80 tickets.

“Most of the people are nice,” said Ryan, who has worked in the town for five years. “[Some] tear [the tickets] up and refuse to take them. I just pick [the ticket] up because it’s already recorded in the computer.”

While parking tickets might be the bane of some drivers’ existence, Legassie does lower the fine or void the ticket entirely if the parking meter offender appeals the ticket. Legassie dismisses more than 2,000 tickets per year. Last year, she reduced almost 1,600 ticket fines. Yet, as many can attest, it isn’t an easy feat to get rid of that ticket.

“You don’t void too many tickets,” Ryan said. “I just tell them [the ticket is] already written. Once it’s written, there’s nothing I can do.”

In a few weeks, residents will notice some new parking meters in the parking lots around town. These new machines will accept credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) and have receipts showing the date they expire.

Neighboring cities and towns, such as Cambridge and Brookline, are experimenting with even newer meter technology, including those that are solar powered. Legassie said those meters aren’t on Wellesley’s horizon, at least for now.

“There’s talk about it,” Legassie said. “I don’t foresee it happening, not for a couple of years.”

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. --The hand-held digital parking ticket device is the latest tool in the law enforcement's arsenal. It's a piece of technology that's very simple to use.

"They're kind of idiot proof. What they do is scan the registration, it gives us a read out and it's just a matter of us entering one section and bang, the ticket is printed," said Herb Simonds Jr. with the Binghamton Police Department.

Its simplicity seems to only be matched by its effectiveness. The city is expecting the device to help raise parking ticket revenues by $75,000.

Tickets can be issued much faster by machine than by hand. In the past the weather played a factor in lost ticket revenue, but not anymore.

"There's times when you know it's zero degrees out. You're trying to write tickets, the pens aren't writing well, maybe the description of the car wasn't legible and at that point if they get to court or something like that, it could be dismissed, where all this is printed out computer perfect," said Simonds.

The machine also shows the officer how many tickets are owed to the vehicle. If that number is three or more, they may put a wheel boot on the car.

The digital devices also come with a camera, which police can use to take a shot of how and where a car is parked and like the other features of the machine, it eliminates a lot of the confusion."

"Very legible, everything is right here. There's no guessing or tickets getting mutilated. They're all nice and printed out. You can't tear it, you can stomp in it, throw it on the ground, whatever you want and it's kind of indestructible," said Simonds.

The city’s new campaign to track down parking ticket scofflaws — including the owner of this FedEx truck — appears to be paying off.

The FedEx truck was booted in November for owing about $2,000 in parking tickets, according to city transportation chief Mike Piscitelli. Within a few hours of having the wheel immobilized, the company came in and paid its tab.

Thanks to new collection tactics, city traffic officials raked in an extra $165,232 in parking ticket revenue in the first quarter of this fiscal year compared to FY07-08. That’s a 14 percent increase, according to a report from the city’s budget director.

“It was a pretty good quarter,” said Piscitelli. The flow of cash came at a time when the city needs it: Departments are facing a spending freeze, and city workers are being forced to choose between concessions and layoffs.

The new funds aren’t a result of more ticketing, Piscitelli said: “Ticketing has not increased substantially in any way compared with last year.” And in a recession, parking downtown is down a little bit.

What’s driving the department’s success, he said, is a new collections procedure.

The city contracts with Complus Data Innovations of White Plains, N.Y., to collect outstanding parking tickets. The company gets a cut of whatever it collects, so it’s incentivized to do a good job.

This year, the city has directed Complus to step up the number of letters it sends to delinquent payers. The city used to send out letters 10 days after a parking ticket is issued, and another one after 20 days. It didn’t have a method for sending out letters after that. Now the city’s got a system in place: Send letters after 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, 120 days, then after one year and then annually thereafter.

That means the city’s sending 7,000 letters a month, where it used to send about 5,000, Piscitelli said. In addition to the letter blitz, the city’s checking more frequently with the state Department of Motor Vehicles for address changes.

“The early results are promising,” Piscitelli said. Also adding to the revenue flow are the city’s relatively new, steeper fees: Tickets double after 15 days, then triple after 30 days. If outstanding tickets total $200, a driver may see a red boot clamped to his wheel, and bright stickers slapped on the window.

The new method is sending the city one steady stream of revenue at a time when others are dribbling due to a recession.

The spike in collections will likely flatten over time, Piscitelli said. But if the city continues to reach more scofflaws, it hopes to settle at a higher rate.

“We’re pushing to a higher plateau of collections,” he said. “Everyone owes. The idea is to make sure everyone pays.”

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, is now offering new clients web-based access to their proprietary FastTrack™ parking ticket management software. Throughout 2008, all new client installations were set up using Citrix web-based thin-client technology.

Citrix web-based access to FastTrack™ allows clients to use the software without installing the application on their PCs. Using a web browser, system users simply sign in to Citrix with a unique user ID and password and then securely access the Complus FastTrack™ application online. The Citrix environment allows most maintenance and support to be handled remotely, which creates faster response times to IT-related issues. “The migration to thin-client technology has streamlined our entire implementation process,” said Stephen Hittman, Chief Operating Officer. “Providing web-based access to FastTrack™ has also virtually eliminated the need for on-site software support and maintenance issues, freeing up valuable IT resources for implementation and training.”

About Complus Data Innovations Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, is proud to announce the availability of an interface between CDI handheld ticket writers and the multi-space parking management system of Parkeon, the global and American leader in on-street parking solutions.

The combination of Parkeon’s wireless, web-based Parkfolio application and the wireless communication capabilities of CDI’s handhelds, will allow parking enforcement personnel to view real-time pay station information on the CDI handheld ticket writer. Enforcement personnel can view valid or expired space information on the handheld device, and then toggle directly into the ticket issuance screen as necessary – ultimately resulting in a more comprehensive and efficient parking enforcement solution and better payment compliance among pay station end-users.

To ensure up-to-date payment data is displayed on the handheld, Parkeon’s Enforcement application first polls all meters in the area for up-to-date payment data. Then it maintains an “always live” connection during enforcement so that, no matter when or from where a motorist might pay, that information is immediately forwarded to the Enforcement Officer’s handheld. This helps ensure accurate citations and decreases in-court disputes.

"Parkeon is pleased to offer clients and prospects of both Parkeon and CDI this unique interface,” says David Palmer, Marketing Director – North America for Parkeon. “Integrating allied technologies, such as handhelds and citation management, into a seamless system is the future of parking management.”

“For potential customers who already have Parkeon pay stations, this represents a unique benefit for us to be able to offer to them,” commented Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. Hittman also added, “Parkeon is a firmly established company in the parking industry and we look forward to working with them on future installations.”

About Complus Data Innovations Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

About Parkeon Inc Parkeon has nearly 40 years experience delivering multi-space parking management solutions. Globally, our systems control over 3 million parking spaces in more than 3,000 cities and 40 countries. We have 200 clients in North America alone. Our parking solutions can increase revenue, improve parking occupancy and flow, and decrease maintenance and collections costs. Our meters offer Pay & Display and Pay by Space deployment, extreme solar power efficiency, and your choice of payment options (e.g. coins, bills, credit card, smart card, cell phone). Our sophisticated management software allows for wireless two-way communication, offering immediate remote download of rate and message changes as well as real-time credit card authorization. For more information, please contact us at 800-732-6868 or visit us at www.parkeon.com.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, is now offering new and existing clients the latest in handheld technology from Casio. Updated with enhanced features and a new look, the Casio IT-3100 is the next generation of an already reliable parking enforcement staple—the Casio IT-3000. The new Casio has an upgraded operating system for more robust development capabilities and a newly-designed LCD display for improved visibility in all lighting conditions. The IT-3100 also features an updated color scheme on the outer case and keyboard, while retaining the same sturdy construction to withstand rough handling and inclement weather conditions.

The IT-3100 offers the same essential parking enforcement attributes from the IT-3000, including image capture, barcode scanning capabilities and standard integrated high-speed thermal printer for one-piece convenience. As part of CDI’s comprehensive parking ticket management system, the Casio IT-3100 is the latest handheld technology for efficient and reliable parking enforcement.

“The IT-3100 represents exactly what our client base is looking for,” said Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “It’s a single-piece unit that is lightweight, user-friendly and a highly effective parking enforcement tool. Part of our goal at CDI is to offer our clients the best overall handhelds available to the parking industry, and this new unit certainly reflects that commitment.”

About Complus Data Innovations Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, is proud to announce a period of rapid growth and expansion, unparalleled in the company’s history. During the last five years, CDI’s client base has grown by nearly 70%, representing a presence in nine new states for CDI. With this recent expansion, CDI now has over 140 clients in 18 states. Throughout this stage of growth, CDI has offered new products, new services, and entered new markets in response to burgeoning demand for their parking ticket management services.

CDI Chief Operating Officer Stephen Hittman commented, “As market demand for new parking enforcement products and services expands, CDI will continue to extend our reach to help meet that demand. Whether it’s a new handheld offering or a completely new market—we are always willing to adapt in order to offer the most comprehensive parking ticket management solution available.”

About Complus Data Innovations Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Wausau officers issued more than 16,000 parking tickets last year, a 71 percent increase from the previous year, according to a newly released report.

The 16,453 citations in 2007 compared with about 9,600 the year before, according to the annual Wausau Police Department report. City police and parking control officers went from writing an average of 26 tickets a day to 46 daily last year.

Citations ranged from $5 for an expired parking meter to $30 for blocking a fire lane.

More officers on the streets and a greater awareness of parking issues led to the increase, said Wausau Traffic Lt. Dennis Saager. The department hired a second parking control officer in 2007, and the new officers often train during third-shift hours, when parking violations are common, Saager said.

In addition, the department began using higher-quality hand-held computers that can process the tickets more efficiently.

Jim Janke, co-owner of Janke Book Store on Third Street, said he wasn't aware so many tickets had been written. A person who violates the rules by parking in a stall all day can deter other potential customers from shopping at downtown businesses, he said.

"If our customers are bothered by it, they haven't said anything," Janke said of the tickets.

Other statistics from the report show:

• Violent crime increased from 108 cases in 2006 to 110 cases in 2007. Robberies increased almost 48 percent to 31 in 2007, but aggravated assaults were down 16 percent from 2006.
• Property crimes were down 15.7 percent from 2006, with 1,125 cases in 2007.
• Drug arrests made by the Police Department were down significantly in 2007 -- 169 arrests in 2007 compared with 202 arrests in 2006 -- largely because of a drop from 90 arrests to 55 arrests for possession of drug paraphernalia.

But the Marathon County Sheriff's Department Special Investigations Unit, which includes two Wausau officers, nearly doubled its arrests in the city of Wausau from 65 to 125. Arrests for manufacturing or delivery of drugs also showed a big jump, increasing from 45 arrests in 2006 to 81 arrests in 2007.

"We started seeing more drugs, and we had a more concentrated effort to interdict," said Sheriff's Lt. Gary Schneck, who leads the Special Investigations Unit.

Digital Payment Technologies, a manufacturer of multi-space parking pay stations and online management systems, and Complus Data Innovations, a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, have teamed up to provide wireless integration between DPT’s LUKE parking meter and CDI’s handheld enforcement devices. The partnership was unveiled at last week’s International Parking Institute Conference (IPI) in Dallas.

The integration enables municipalities, universities, and private parking operators to capture real-time information about paid and unpaid parking spaces in Pay By Space operations. The benefits include increasing the efficiency of enforcement officers, raising the accuracy in citation issuance, reducing customer service issues due to false citations, and positively impacting the environment with the elimination of paper-based reports.

“We are thrilled to offer this new capability to current customers already utilizing DPT pay stations,” said Stephen J. Hittman, CDI Chief Operating Officer. “Payment compliance and efficient parking enforcement are crucial to our customers’ bottom line. Anything we can offer to impact revenue in a positive way is welcomed by our customer base.” Hittman also noted: “Going forward, this will present tremendous advantages for both Complus and Digital as we continue to grow and search for new business opportunities.”

The integration between DPT parking meters and CDI’s enforcement devices was made possible by DPT’s Web Services application. DPT Web Services provides the tools required for third-party technology companies to pull real-time data for DPT’s Internet-based management system, Enterprise Management System (EMS). Additional applications can include the automated delivery of transaction information into parking operation accounting systems and the customized reporting in association with in-ground parking space sensor systems. DPT Web Services was launched in October 2007 and DPT expects there will be a significant growth in integration demonstrations over the next year. Cities like Milwaukee, WI, and Fredericton, NB, have already developed their own custom applications using the software platform.

“Technology integration was a theme at last year’s IPI, but very few companies in the industry were actually demonstrating how it could work,” stated Chris Chettle, DPT’s Vice President, Marketing. “We are very excited to work with CDI to deliver a tangible example of how industry players can work together and deliver expanded benefits to our mutual clients.”

About Digital Payment Technologies Corp.
Digital Payment Technologies is an innovative leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of electronic parking meters, management software, and online services for the multi-billion-dollar parking industry. The company’s products provide complete financial tracking, control, and reporting on parking revenue collected by cities, municipalities, universities, parking management companies, private operators, and national parks, from customer payment through to bank deposit. In 2007, DPT was named Emerging Company of the Year by the British Columbia Technology Industry Association. In the same year, DPT placed on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 and Fast 500 lists for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest growing high technology companies in Canada and North America.

About Complus Data Innovations
New York-based Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the US, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes on-site training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure Web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

For more information, please contact:
Chris Chettle, Vice President Marketing Digital Payment Technologies Corp. (604) 688-1959 extension 240 chris.chettle@digitalpaytech.com
OR
Dave Holler, Director of Business Development Complus Data Innovations (914) 747-1200 davidh@complusdata.com
OR
Steve Campbell, Campbell & Company Strategies Vancouver, B.C. (604) 888-5267 scampbell@campbellpr.bc.ca

BATH - The Bath Police Department last week won approval to outsource the processing of parking tickets in a development Chief David Rouse said would save the village $40,000 a year.

Tarrytown-based Complus Data Innovations Inc. is expected to begin managing the police department's fine collections in the fall, Rouse told The Courier after Bath village trustees unanimously approved hiring the company for $1,000 per month.

Rouse noted the local police department will continue writing parking tickets.

All subsequent activity, however, will be handled by Complus, including scofflawing individuals who fail to pay parking fines. Rouse said scofflaw sanctions may also be extended against individuals who fail to pay parking fines prior to the initiation of Complus services. "If you have any late parking tickets, come in a take care of them," Rouse said.

Individuals who believe they were issued an improper parking ticket may protest in court, Rouse added. "This will not negate anybody's due process," he said.

The move to engage Complus' services development after village officials earlier this year decided not to replace veteran dispatcher Connie Holmes when she retires next month. Rouse said the work of processing parking tickets would be too much for the remaining two dispatchers to handle.

"When tickets come in, one dispatcher has to run the license plate numbers through DMV," Rouse said.

"Another dispatchers takes care of collections, and another sends out late notices. It's quite time consuming. I can't expect two people to pick up the work of a third."

Once Complus takes over the management of fine collections, area residents will notice a few changes when their vehicles are ticketed. For one, the yellow parking tickets will disappear. Rouse said a slip of paper containing violation and fine data would be left under a windshield wiper. It may be possible to pay parking fines on-line, he added.

Complus provides similar services to the cities of Corning and Elmira, Rouse said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Denis Butler has been gazing into parked cars for the past 17 years.

"I used to walk around with a chalk stick and a ticket book, but this is much faster," he said, aiming his electronic ticket-writer at a registration sticker.

The sticker was stuck to the front window of a car parked in one of the city's two-hour parking restricted lots. Butler, one of the city's three parking officers, reckoned he scans 300 to 400 cars each day and writes between 17 and 20 tickets.

The scanner might be faster, but its use hasn't led to more tickets being written.

In the past five years, the number of parking tickets issued in the city has dipped from a high of 16,999 in 2003 to 5,993 for the first half of 2008, on pace for fewer than 12,000 for the year. The decline is a good thing, city officials said.

"We interpret that as people following the rules and regulations. With people following the rules of parking, there is more of a benefit for our downtown," said Public Safety Commissioner Ron Kim. "We want that. Shopkeepers want that. It works all the way around."

But as the number of tickets had fallen, revenue has gone up. The city received $252,000 in parking ticket revenue in 2005, $328,000 in 2006 and $528,000 in 2007, the first full year of service after the city hired Complus Data Innovations Inc.

The ticket management company, who also services Glens Falls, Lake George and Schenectady, was hired in December 2006. The city's collection rate under Complus has gone from 72 percent to 89 percent. The company charges an 11 percent fee for violators in New York and 18 percent for tickets written on cars with out-of-state license plates.

Vehicles parked longer than the allowable limit -- two hours on most of Broadway and in many city-owned lots -- get a $25 ticket plus a $5 surcharge. The surcharge is waived if payment is made in cash. The fine doubles 15 days after it was issued.

Earlier this year, the Public Safety Department began a more aggressive campaign by tabulating a list of 180 license plate holders who owe more than $500 each in ticket fines.

Dubbed the "heavy hitters," the violators owe the city more than $150,000. The information on their vehicles has been downloaded into the electronic ticket-writers, so Butler is alerted every time he scans the registration of one of the heavy hitters. He makes a call to verify the fines are still outstanding, then calls a tow truck.

In the first few months of the heavy-hitter crackdown, four cars have been towed. Three violators combined to pay $3,185 in back fines and a fourth has made arrangements to pay a reduced amount of $500.

Butler said the most common excuses he hears are that people had only intended to stop for 30 seconds but got held up. Saying they lost track of the day is also a popular excuse, he said. Many two-hour parking locations are restricted only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Butler, who is difficult to miss in his bright neon yellow uniform, said he often hears a familiar cry when he is standing over a violator's car.

"They say: 'Whoa-Whoa-Whoa, don't do it.' But once it's in the computer, it doesn't come out."

With the ongoing development of the city, some previously public parking areas, such as the one near the new Hampton Inn, have been lost.

The city's population is about 27,000, but the need for more parking is especially pronounced in the summer, when a daily average of 30,000 people visit the Saratoga Race Course and as many as 25,000 attend concerts at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

Mayor Scott Johnson said recent studies show a need for at least 500 additional spots in the city during peak season. Even more will be required after the Saratoga Springs City Center undergoes an expansion, scheduled to begin early next year and to be completed in mid-2010, he said.

City officials and downtown business owners want crowds to descend upon downtown and ways to expand city parking are being studied.

Traditional parking meters -- which Johnson called "unsightly" -- are not an option, although a multi-story parking garage with an attractive façade treatment is being considered, Johnson said.

"Our city land is valuable. The only way to maximize the available space that we have is to go up," said Johnson. He added that he hopes to have a more definitive plan as early as October.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, has been doing their part to ensure that US troops stationed in Iraq are able to enjoy some of the comforts of home—even while they’re 6,000 miles away. As a special thank you to our troops, Complus employees have “adopted” several battalions, and have been putting together care packages filled with snacks, toiletries, DVDs, music, books, and other sundries not readily available to those actively serving in the Armed Forces overseas.

These packages are then sent to the men and women that proudly defend our country abroad. A recent e-mail from one of the soldiers on the front lines stated, “It's getting rough and this is why we are all grateful for your contribution of support to the soldiers. Not sure how we can repay you. Thanks for all you do and God bless.” Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer, commented, “It’s our small way of helping and we’re glad to provide some comfort and relief to these brave individuals.”

For more information about how you or your organization can help support our troops, please contact the USO or visit www.uso.org.

Thank you to all of our troops, both home and abroad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

About Complus Data Innovations
Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

CDI and DPT officially announced the jointly-developed technology at the International Parking Institute’s (IPI) 2008 Conference and Exposition in Dallas, Texas. Utilizing DPT Web Services capabilities and the CDI-designed handheld application, IPI conference attendees were able to view real-time pay station information on the CDI handheld ticket writer. Parking enforcement personnel will now be able to view up-to-the-minute information on their handheld ticket writer, resulting in better payment compliance among pay station end-users and more efficient parking enforcement for the municipal or university customer. “Technology integration was a theme at last year’s IPI, but very few companies in the industry were actually demonstrating how it could work,” stated Chris Chettle, DPT’s Vice President, Marketing. “We are very excited to work with CDI to deliver a tangible example of how industry players can work together and deliver expanded benefits to our mutual clients.”

“We are thrilled to offer this new capability to current customers already utilizing DPT pay stations,” said Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “Payment compliance and efficient parking enforcement are crucial to our customers’ bottom line. Anything we can offer to impact revenue in a positive way is welcomed by our customer base.” Hittman also noted, “Going forward, this will present tremendous advantages for both Complus and Digital as we continue to grow and search for new business opportunities.”

About Complus Data Innovations
Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

About Digital Payment Technologies Corp.
Digital Payment Technologies is an innovative leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of electronic parking meters, management software, and online services for the multi-billion-dollar parking industry. The company’s products provide complete financial tracking, control, and reporting on parking revenue collected by cities, municipalities, universities, parking management companies, private operators, and national parks, from customer payment through to bank deposit. In 2007, DPT was named Emerging Company of the Year by the British Columbia Technology Industry Association. In the same year, DPT placed on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 and Fast 500 lists for the second consecutive year as one of the fastest growing high technology companies in Canada and North America.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, has officially launched their latest service offering to eligible municipalities. A unique agreement with Maryland-based Optotraffic now allows Complus to offer red light and speed violation processing services as part of their overall solution. Over one year of planning has gone into this arrangement and has culminated with the first installation in Edmonston, Maryland.

After a violation incident has occurred, Optotraffic’s program will transmit the information to Complus, allowing a municipality to track the data through CDI’s proprietary FastTrack™ Software. Complus also provides nationwide DMV processing and noticing activities as they relate to both the red light and speed violations that occur. Additionally, they have expanded their online payment service to allow violators to pay these violations with their credit card through a fully integrated and automated system. In many states, legislation has already passed or is pending that both allows for and governs this process.

“We are looking forward to offering another valuable service to both new clients and our loyal customer base,” commented Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “This service is a natural extension of what we’ve been doing for the past 25 years, which is providing violation processing.” Hittman added, “As with any service enhancement we make, we listen to our clients and provide solutions that will benefit them in the long run while staying within our existing business model.”

About Complus Data Innovations
Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

About Optotraffic
Optotraffic provides integrated traffic safety solutions that focus on the engineering and installation of both automated red light and speed enforcement cameras that aim to combat unsafe behaviors in our communities. By deploying proprietary, state-of-the-art, non-invasive detection systems coupled with high-resolution photo and video systems, and complete citation generation services, Optotraffic’s technology helps to ensure the highest exposure and prosecutable rates for these violations, while improving overall traffic safety and reducing the number of motor vehicle accidents. There have been many research studies throughout the United States that have shown the safety benefits of automated enforcement programs.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, was recently awarded the parking ticket management services contract for Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte-Douglas represents the company’s first airport client.

Since 1986, CDI has provided Parking Ticket Management Services to a steadily growing client base of more than 140 municipal and university clients across 16 states. Now, for the first time in the company’s history, an airport will benefit from CDI’s industry-leading customer service and progressive technology.

“It’s a very natural extension of what we do,” said Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “Our company is 100% focused on delivering turnkey, revenue-generating parking ticket management solutions…and airports can benefit from this service just as much as any municipality or university.”

“Charlotte-Douglas chose CDI because we needed a solution that would increase our revenue collections while streamlining the entire process more efficiently than we could in-house. We have been very impressed with the level of customer service and personal attention provided by Complus.” – Eugene Carney, Assistant Aviation Director, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport

Mr. Hittman went on to explain that while there are some fundamental differences in the nature of parking violations that typically occur at airports versus municipal or campus environments, CDI’s offering is easily adaptable to the unique requirements of the airport client. “The entire premise of our FastTrack™ software and “Signature Service” support is to provide a robust solution that is specifically customized to the individual client’s needs. We don’t sell anything off-the-shelf. We always adapt our platform to suit the needs of the particular municipality, university—and now—airport,” he said.

“Our track record of improving collection rates, combined with our promise of zero up-front costs, ongoing no-cost upgrades, on-site training, and new hardware, is a difficult package to pass up,” commented Mr. Hittman. “We are excited to be able to help Charlotte-Douglas achieve its goals.”

About Complus Data Innovations
Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI), a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, deployed its 1,000th handheld ticket writer on September 12th, 2007—14 years since it began providing this innovative technology to customers nationwide. The landmark occasion was shared by their newest municipal client, the City of Sarasota, FL, who received the unit, among others, and now enjoys its benefits.

“This is an important milestone for Complus and our customers,” commented Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “In many ways, the handheld ticket writer is a tangible symbol of our core service: state-of-the-art technology that’s user friendly, real-time, and highly accurate, providing a seamless link between enforcement, the back office, and the payment process.”

Hittman also noted that, as with all of the hardware and software provided by CDI, the ticket writers were delivered to Sarasota at no upfront cost. “We succeed when our clients succeed,” he said, adding, “We are confident enough in our product and service to know that we don’t need to charge our clients incrementally for the tools that will significantly increase their parking ticket collection rates.”

CDI’s current handheld offering, the Casio IT-3000, is a lightweight, durable unit equipped with an integrated high-speed printer and software that connects instantly to CDI’s proprietary FastTrack™ system—the engine behind the CDI parking ticket management solution. CDI’s system allows the parking agent in the field to enter the violation information, print a ticket on the spot, and later perform a simple upload of the shift’s data to the FastTrack™ system housed on new PCs in the municipal office…equipment which is also provided as part of the CDI package.

As part of its guaranteed equipment upgrade and replacement policy, the Casio IT-3000 is the 5th different handheld the company has offered over the years. “We guarantee that when we upgrade any of our hardware or software, we will provide it to the client at no cost,” Hittman noted.

About Complus Data Innovations
Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

The City of Saratoga Springs, NY, reported a 117% increase in parking ticket revenues for 2007— just 1 year after Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) assumed responsibility for the municipality’s parking ticket management services.

CDI was contracted by the City in 2006 to address a significant backlog of unpaid parking tickets and to help overhaul the entire parking ticket handling process. Ron Kim, Commissioner of Public Safety for the City of Saratoga Springs, is pleased with the Complus program’s ability to help collect delinquent parking tickets. Kim explained that, “At first we thought we needed a collection agency. However, when bids were received in response to our RFP, we realized that we needed a more comprehensive solution to our needs. That’s what Complus has brought to the table, and it has been demonstrated in the revenue numbers that they have helped us generate.” Lisa Nolan, Department of Public Safety, further stated, “We are very happy with the system. Calls for any service needs are handled professionally and the overall customer service has been A+”.

According to CDI, the City’s first year success is common among their newer clients. “As a leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions, we are committed to helping our customers achieve superior results. We pride ourselves on being revenue-generating specialists,” said Stephen J. Hittman, Chief Operating Officer of CDI. “Budgets are tight and municipalities are looking for ways to cut costs and to bring in more revenue to enhance their bottom line.”

Under their contract with the City, CDI provides an end-to-end solution that includes handheld ticket writers for automated enforcement, management software, nationwide DMV lookups, and delinquent noticing. CDI also manages the interface between the City and the State of New York to prevent vehicle registration renewals for violators whose unpaid parking tickets meet certain criteria under the State’s guidelines. CDI notes that the City of Saratoga Springs is one of 50 clients that they currently serve in the State of New York.

About Complus Data Innovations
Complus Data Innovations, Inc. (CDI) is a recognized leader in the field of Parking Ticket Management solutions. A full service provider of products and services to over 140 municipalities, universities, and airports across the country, CDI offers the proprietary FastTrack™ ticket management software, state-of-the-art hardware including handheld ticket writers, and 24/7 “Signature Service” customer support. The company’s fully integrated suite of products and services also includes onsite training, delinquent noticing, nationwide DMV lookups, TicketView Imaging service, and secure web-based payment capabilities. For more information, visit www.complusdata.com.

Until now, the only Elmira service people could pay online was parking fines, and that only began earlier this year after City Council voted in March to approve a three-year computerized ticket arrangement with Complus Data Innovations of Tarrytown, N.Y.

That arrangement has been very successful, and revenue and the number of tickets written have increased since it was implemented, City Chamberlain David Vandermark said.

"We generated more tickets, a tremendous amount, because it's faster and more accurate," he said. "It's a hand-held computer, and all they do is scan your registration right on the windshield. That takes all the data off the bar code and prints the ticket, so you can do them in seconds."

As a result, the city is generating about 75 percent more in parking fines, Vandermark said. "If I remember correctly, the number was around $14,000 in the month of September," he said.

Also, by going to online payment of tickets, people are paying more quickly and also are paying their older tickets, Vandermark said.

Complus sends out reminder notices to ticketed motorists, he said. Even though the city pays a fee to cover postage, it is generating far more money than if it were still doing parking ticket billing on own -- "big time," he said.

Complus also has systems in place to track down drivers and vehicles, even if other municipalities are involved, he said. ... Corning uses Complus for its parking tickets and is pleased with the results, City Manager Mark Ryckman said, noting people also can pay their tickets online.

"The system works well," he said. "It is just one of the methods used for collections."

The city of Athens has recovered thousands of dollars in unpaid parking tickets since hiring an independent contractor in June 2005 to recover old tickets, said Athens Police Department Capt. Tom Pyle.

Athens City Council passed an ordinance in April 2005 to authorize the hiring of Complus Data Innovations, Inc., which provides the city with computer hardware, software and collection services, City Auditor Kathy Hecht said.

Hecht estimated Complus has brought in $60,000 in unpaid tickets to date, but the number will level off as soon as all the back tickets are paid. She said the city estimated parking ticket revenues would be $260,000 for 2005 but turned out to be $336,000 - though she said the unexpected increase was not exclusively because of Complus, which began collecting in July.

"It has definitely given us an opportunity to collect big money from outdated tickets and the ability to have updated technology," Pyle said, adding that those with more than $50 in unpaid parking tickets will not be unable to renew their driver's licenses under the new system.

Athens has signed a three-year contract with Complus, which offered the "cheapest bid (for a service) that had everything we wanted," said Hecht.

In addition to charging a flat fee, Complus keeps a percentage of all tickets collected - 9.5 percent for collection from Ohio drivers and 20 percent from out-of-state drivers, Pyle said. "We're spending money now, but we're improving our rate of collections," he said.

Complus has started issuing notices for unpaid tickets from up to two years ago and will look back to issue notices for older unpaid tickets, Hecht said.

Complus is able to collect out-of-state tickets more easily because it has contact with the bureaus of motor vehicles in all states, Pyle said. "We used to do that here, and it took considerable man hours," he said.

In addition to collecting money from tickets, Complus has provided Athens' parking services with a new computer and hand-held devices for entering parking ticket information, Pyle said, adding that the technology will replace APD's 15-year-old system.

Complus has "innovative ways to collect on tickets," including a web site where tickets can be paid using a credit card, Pyle said. "It has definitely increased productivity," he said.

Complus, which is headquartered in Tarrytown, N.Y., works with municipal and university police departments and tailors its services specifically to match a department's needs, Stephen Hittman of Complus said.

"We perform this service for many cities nationwide, and we're happy to be serving Athens," he said.