The Department of Public works will add 34 parking officers within the next year to increase enforcement. The civilian parking enforcement program was established to curtail illegal parking in commercial areas on weekdays when traffic volumes are heavy and to reduce commuter intrusion in residential neighborhoods. The Metropolitan Police Department performs late evening, nighttime, and weekend enforcement. Parking officers monitor the entire city for parking violations. There are more than 70,000 zone parking spaces throughout the city.
Daily enforcement is possible in only the most seriously impacted areas.
Residents are afforded the option of purchasing residential parking permits. However, residents who choose not to purchase permits may be cited for violating the two-hour zone parking restriction. Should residents of a specific block conclude that the zone parking restriction is not beneficial they may submit a counter petition to Parking Services at 1725 15th Street, NE, 2nd Floor. The counter petition must contain signatures from a majority of the households in the block. Once the counter petition is accepted the zone parking regulation will be removed.