Digital cameras to snap Calgary parking violators

Digital cameras mounted on police officers' cars will help crack down on Calgary drivers who stay too long in short-term parking zones.

Dale Fraser, general manager of the Calgary Parking Authority, said the city will soon be testing two of the cameras around short-term parking areas in the city.

The cameras take digital photos of licence plates as an officer drives along the streets. A few hours later, the officer will drive by again with the cameras snapping more photos. If a car or truck has been sitting too long in short-term parking, the driver will get a ticket in the mail.

An officer using a chalk to mark tires can monitor about 200 parked vehicles a shift. With the new system, an officer can monitor between 1,500 and 2,000 vehicles.

Fraser said he hopes the new technology will especially help Calgarians who have parking problems in front of their homes or businesses.