East Lansing to deploy artificial intelligence for parking enforcement

East Lansing to deploy artificial intelligence for parking enforcement

EAST LANSING — Parking enforcement in downtown East Lansing is about to get tougher due to solar-powered cameras driven by artificial intelligence to catch vehicles parking in no parking zones.

The city's seven "SafetySticks" - sleek, gray, and taller and thinner than a red fire hydrant - are about a month away from going live.

"They have the technology to recognize a vehicle and a license plate," said Capt. Adrian Ojerio of the East Lansing Police Department. "When they recognize a vehicle and license plate is stationery in a no parking zone, what will happen is it will start a timer."

After 90 seconds, a camera will snap an image of the vehicle if it hasn't moved and that image will get uploaded to Municipal Parking Services Inc., a Golden Valley, Minnesota-based company that created the SafetySticks, where a human with the company will confirm a violation.

Data including an image with clear identification of the vehicle, a license plate and a time and date stamp will be forwarded along to East Lansing's Department of Parking and Code Enforcement. There, staff will review the image and data collected to certify the violation before submitting it to East Lansing's 54B District Court. Municipal Parking Services will mail a citation to the vehicle owner.

"You have every right to appeal it," Ojerio said. But "with the camera system, not only do they get the ticket they also get an image of the vehicle in the no parking zone violating the law."

The Internet network necessary for the a successful SafetyStick program is still being secured, said Ojerio, explaining some delays in getting the equipment on Abbot Road, Division Street and Albert and M.A.C avenues to go live.

While the police department's intent is curbing bad parking behavior, not everyone is geeked by the new technology even if cameras and AI are involved.

Allie Siarto owns a photography business near where the devices will be placed on Abbot Road and has parked in the no parking zone they'll be monitoring.

She said the city doesn't have enough loading and unloading zones, and she's parked in the no parking zone to load and unload equipment or to run into her business to grab something.

"It's really a challenge," Siarto said of the SafetyStick technology. "It's enough of a challenge it could drive me out of East Lansing as a business owner."

The police department conducted a pilot program with seven safety sticks during the month of April, when Michigan State University students were on campus. The technology captured 1,340 violations, including about 200 at Abbot and Grand River. Those violations were logged every day of the month, at all hours of day and night, which Ojerio said demonstrated a need for assistance.

He added that no citations were issued, and, while the SafetySticks kept running after the pilot program ended, the city has not done anything with the data.

Municipal Parking Services did not respond to inquires from the State Journal. The company's website shows the SafetySticks being used in other states including New Jersey, New Mexico and Massachusetts.

"Founded in 2013, MPS manages tens of millions of parking sessions annually across the U.S. and Canada," its website reads. "Leveraging AI, our patented technology platform has been engineered to maximize profits and optimize compliance in parking lots and garages of all sizes as well as on public streets and restricted parking areas, delivering a comprehensive, end-to-end Parking-as-a-Service solution that has set the standard for automated, vision-based parking enforcement."

After some questions about signage and plans to publicize the new equipment, council members unanimously agreed to the city contracting with Municipal Parking Services over the summer.

"I was skeptical in relation to what the purpose was and the need for them," Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Grigsby said on Thursday, Oct. 1, adding that the equipment could help as downtown drivers maneuver downtown construction that includes work on The Howard, a 12-story building planned to have an estimated 296 apartments and ground-floor commercial space. "We do have a lot of projects happening downtown. It does create some issues."

Ojerio said the SafetyStick program will be able to weed out images of drivers stuck in no parking zones because of backed-up traffic during big events like football games.

The technology won't mean any costs for the city. Municipal Parking Services is handling the installation and maintenance of the SafetySticks, which could eventually number 20.

Parking in a no parking zone is a $35 fine, and the Minnesota company will collect 50% of each paid citation through the court, plus a $5 fee from the violator for mailing out the violations.

"The SafetySticks provide several benefits to include increased visibility at intersections and crosswalks, less obstructions for cyclists, and help to preserve ADA access zones," Ojerio said in his report to council. "They also allowfor fair and consistent enforcement of city code, improve traffic flow and visibility, and keep emergency access areas unobstructed for first responders. Finally, they will help to deter repeat offenders, provide better coverage across the district, and improve safety for those who live, work, and visit our city."

Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.