Citizens Can Write Parking Tickets at Somerset Collection

Professional security at The Somerset Collection can now write parking tickets, as part of a new program approved by Troy City Council earlier this week.

The technology allowing for such a program comes as the perfect time, said Troy Police Chief Gary Mayer, as the department has studied ways to enforce law despite a reduction in staff. Earlier this year, the Somerset Collection agreed to reimburse the city in order to have a Troy Police officer working there 40 hours per week. Now, security there are able to issue citations for 10 parking violations.

Those violations include; parking on a sidewalk, parking in front of a public or private driveway, and parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

"It works out for us because we won’t get the calls for service on parking complaints and ... it works out for the Somerset Collection because it will allow them to have their people enforcing the parking laws," Mayer said to city council.

Security will use a new program developed by Oakland County's Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System (CLEMIS), utilizing Bluetooth and a portable printer to create a ticket. Tickets will be reviewed at the end of each day by a police supervisor, according to Troy Police. 

Police are obligated by state law to offer at least eight hours training for each person before they can issue tickets.