St. Joseph Police Department hires new civilian officers to boost parking enforcement
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- St. Joseph is strengthening its parking enforcement capabilities with the hiring of two new positions designed to target illegally parked vehicles, efforts that will ramp up beginning next week.
The St. Joseph Police Department announced the hiring of two new civilian parking enforcement officers on Thursday to patrol the city and issue tickets and tow tags for vehicles not following city traffic ordinances.
All vehicles parked on a city street must display valid license plates, have current insurance, be operational and be parked properly following all road signage and in the direction of traffic flow. Vehicles failing to meet these requirements will face a fine and may be towed.
The new civilian officers started enforcement measures over the last few weeks during a recent training period. Their efforts will increase as they begin patrolling streets throughout the city full-time next week. The officers will be driving marked cars that differ from the look of the police department’s patrol vehicles and in a uniform that designates their role.
The new program is part of an effort to improve customer service related to frequent parking concerns.
“This program reflects our continued commitment to keeping St. Joseph’s neighborhoods safe, clean and accessible,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster said in a statement. “By addressing abandoned and improperly parked vehicles, we’re not only enforcing the law but also responding directly to the concerns of our residents. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life and ensure our streets remain welcoming for everyone.”
While the officers will be looking for violations and issuing tickets and tow orders accordingly, citizens can also help by reporting illegally parked vehicles on the city’s website at www.stjosephmo.gov.
After clicking the “Report a Concern” button on the home page, residents can enter information about the vehicle and its location for officers to respond. Citizens can also call the police department’s non-emergency number at 816-271-4777 to report a concern.
