Pikeville, KY – The City of Pikeville and Automotus, Inc. (Automotus), the leader in automated curb management solutions, are embarking on a transformative parking enforcement journey set to reshape the city’s downtown landscape. Through this initiative, Automotus has integrated 25 cameras to oversee parking activities across 75 time-limited on-street parking spaces in the downtown area. This initiative marks a departure from the City’s traditional enforcement methods, ushering in a new era of efficiency and accessibility.
The introduction of this automated camera system represents a significant step forward in the City’s parking management efforts, streamlining operations and reducing the reliance on manual enforcement. By leveraging Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology, the system will seamlessly scan license plates and issue tickets directly to registered drivers.
This initiative comes in response to a landmark ruling by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2019, which deemed traditional chalk-based enforcement methods unconstitutional. Since then, Pikeville has faced challenges in maintaining parking compliance, prompting the exploration of innovative solutions.
The program will have extremely positive benefits related to improving parking compliance, as well as reducing impacts on local law enforcement. Pikeville Deputy City Manager of Operations Brad Slone stated that he "hopes the new system will encourage residents and those who work in town to park in some of the city’s free, off-street parking lots to keep space for visitors." He also explained, "Our officers work hard and they do things besides just law enforcement. The time they spend walking around checking to see how long somebody’s parked, could be better spent elsewhere for the community.”
Pikeville's commitment to economic vitality and tourism reinforces this transition, with the city striving to create a conducive environment for growth and prosperity. The proposed increase in ticket fines, accompanied by streamlined enforcement processes, aims to foster responsible parking behavior while bolstering civic development initiatives.
For more information, check out this article from WYMT News in Kentucky.