LTC 443-2016 Body Worn Cameras (BWC) - Parking Enforcement 41-.. MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 443-2016 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Members the City • • mission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: October 20, 2016
SUBJECT: BODY WORN CAMERAS (BWC)— PARKING ENFORCEMENT
The purpose of this LTC (Letter to Commission) is to provide an update regarding the
deployment of BWC in the City's parking enforcement unit.
The City's Police Department provided training to each employee outfitted with a BWC
during the months of December 2015 and January 2016. As of February 1, 2016, all
parking enforcement specialists (PES) and parking operations supervisors within the
Parking Department's enforcement unit has been actively using BWCs. Additionally,
standard operating procedures (SOP) were developed for parking enforcement utilizing
the Police Department's SOP as a template with amendments to suit parking
enforcement.
PESs are required to activate their BWC under a variety of circumstances. Most notable
are during any interactions with customers; towing a vehicle, and enforcement of valet
parking violations, to name a few.
The deployment of BWC has proven to be an immeasurable tool in deciphering
legitimate customer issues/complaint versus anecdotal accounts of circumstances
and/or exchanges with parking enforcement personnel. Many allegations are quickly
debunked once footage as well as audio is viewed. Most notable is the recent piece on
WSVN's Help me Howard (HMH). As you may recall, a vehicle was towed because it
was parked at a posted valet parking passenger loading area. The customer alleged to
HMH that there was no sign posted at the time when they parked their car and the signs
were only placed after their vehicle was towed.
With the assistance of BWC, video footage (and audio) confirmed the following:
• Time and date stamp of when signs were posted (prior to the vehicle in
question being parked); and
• Inventory of vehicles parked prior to posting (vehicles parked prior to
posting are not be cited/towed)
This was a text book example of how a BWC should be used by parking enforcement
personnel. In fact, Howard Finkelstein stated the following, "If this was a permanent sign,
the city could just show a picture to prove that you parked there. But because it's a
smaller portable sign, the city not only has to prove you parked there. They should also
have evidence that the gorilla sign was there before you parked, because if it was put
there after you parked, you get your money back." We then called Miami Beach, and
give them credit: They had everything documented on video".
October 20, 2016
Letter to Commission
Body Worn Cameras(BWC)—Parking Enforcement
Page 2
If you should have any questions, please contact Saul Frances, Parking Director via
email or at extension 6483.
c: Kathie Brooks, Assistant City Manager
Mark Taxis, Assistant City Manager
Susanne Torriente, Assistant City Manager
Cintya Ramos, Budget Director
Eric Carpenter, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
Daniel Oates, Chief of Police
Marcia Monserrat, Chief of Staff/Office of the City Manager
Saul Frances, Parking Director
JLM/KGB/SF A
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