North Jersey city using crossing guards to issue parking tickets

    Orange, N.J., is feeling the pinch, so in an effort to save more and keep the revenue coming, the city has decided to issue its parking violations through crossing guards.

    Once sworn in by a municipal judge, guards will spend their non-crossing time issuing tickets for things like fire hydrant parking and expired meters. It’s a unique move, but it is one that could work elsewhere?

    The Star-Ledger reports Orange collected $468,709 from parking fines and court costs in the last fiscal year and expects an additional $100,000 through the crossing guard initiative. And getting a parking ticket from someone who’s also helping kids might diffuse the situation.

    Feed the Feed: Could other cities make this arrangement work?

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal