Allentown Parking Authority

The Allentown Parking Authority is responsible for both off and on-street parking within the City of Allentown, Pennsylvania.[1]

Allentown Parking Authority
Agency overview
Headquarters603 West Linden Street
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101
Websitewww.allentownparking.com

The Allentown Parking Authority owns and manages five parking garages in downtown/center city, Allentown and leases 29 surface lots plus one parking ramp which make up a total of over 4,020 parking spaces.

The Allentown Parking Authority is responsible for the enforcement of both City and State parking regulations, by way of parking tickets, towing, wheel booting and/or impounding vehicles.

The Allentown Parking Authority currently regulates 1,500+ parking meters.

2008 Allentown Parking Authority statistics

In 2008, the Allentown Parking Authority:

  • Issued 108,289 parking tickets
  • Immobilized 428 vehicles
  • Impounded 1,002 vehicles
  • Had a total operating cost of: $3,041,000.00[2]
  • Had a total income of: $5,682,000.00[2]

Criticisms

Residents have criticized the Allentown Parking Authority for targeting low-income families[3] living in center city Allentown by way of excessive fines[4] and unnecessary meter parking.[5]

The Allentown Parking Authority has also been criticized for disrupting commerce in Allentown’s downtown shopping district by overzealously ticketing during standard business hours[6][7] and unnecessary meter parking.[5]

The Allentown Parking Authority has also been criticized for indirectly implementing a so-called ticketing quota"[3] by budgeting its operations via revenue generated by ticketing vehicles[8][9]

The Allentown Parking Authority has also been criticized for wasteful spending[10] and flaunting its high-priced "Parking Enforcement Technology"[11] while public schools in the Allentown School District are perceived as under-funded[12]

In December 2009, the website brokenladders.com called the Allentown Parking Authority a "corrupt, wasteful, hypocritical, nuisance" and launched a grassroots campaign to have the entity shut down.[13]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-25. Retrieved 2009-09-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Reference at www.allentownparking.com" (PDF). Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine Allentown Parking Authority 2008 Audit Report
  3. "Reference at www.brokenladders.com". Archived 2009-11-19 at the Wayback Machine Allentown Parking Authority on BrokenLadders.com
  4. "Mcall.com: Queen City Daily Blog". Archived 2009-06-28 at the Wayback Machine Tickets by Block
  5. "MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN: Parking Authority Preys On Poor". Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Parking Authority Preys on Poor
  6. "Mcall.com: Queen City Daily Blog". Archived 2009-06-28 at the Wayback Machine Tickets by Time
  7. "MOLOVINSKY ON ALLENTOWN: Tip For Snooks". Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Tip For Snooks
  8. "Reference at pqasb.pqarchiver.com". Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine Time to re-evaluate Allentown parking
  9. "Reference at www.allentownpa.gov" (PDF). Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine CITY OF ALLENTOWNFINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES
  10. "Teenagers happy with new place to ride - Morning Call". Allentown Parking Authority Buys $1,232.67 Light Bulb
  11. "Reference at wfmz.com". New Parking Technology Aids Officers in Allentown
  12. "Reference at www.allentownsd.org" (PDF). Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Resolution Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to Approve a 2009-10 State Budget that Maintains the Commonwealth's Commitment to Adequate and Equitable Basic Education Funding
  13. "Reference at www.brokenladders.com". Archived 2009-11-19 at the Wayback Machine The Allentown Parking Authority is a Corrupt, Wasteful, Hypocritical, Nuisance

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