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| Welcome to Fairfax Police Department |
    
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| Parking Program
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| In times past, parking in Fairfax could be problematic. But the Town's attention to the matter has turned the problem around.
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 In 2000, the Town Council agreed that the Fairfax Police Department should add a part-time Community Service Officer to manage parking enforcement in the town. Fairfax Police obtained a state grant that would pay for half the salary of a Community Services Officer, a civilian position. Previously, only full time police officers assigned to patrol were asked to manage parking problems.
Complicating the issue, the town had multiple different parking time zones in the downtown area. Visitors to the downtown were often confused by the time zones and had a hard time understanding where they could park, and for how long. So, in 2000, a motion was taken to the Town Council to standardize the parking zone timing in the downtown area. Now, parking is standardized at:
- 2 hours for street parking
- 4 hours in parking lots
Together, standardized zones, a proactive Community Service Officer and patrol officers have helped to improve parking. "The standardized parking program has really benefited the community," explained Community Service Officer Cynthia Powell. "It is easier for everyone to understand how long they can park in a certain place. Moreover, our merchants have benefited because when cars move, other customers can come and park - and so business has improved, too."
To accommodate merchants and residents whose cars must remain parked for longer periods of time, parking permits are available that allow merchants to park all day, and residents to park overnight in the Town's parking lots.
In addition to improving the rules for parking, the method for enforcing parking in the town has been improved. Until now, Powell has walked through the downtown area to enforce parking - a foot beat that encompasses roughly a 24-block area. "It was a real challenge to get back and forth across the area on foot in time to check all the zones consistently," she commented. Now, however, the department is one of four agencies in the county leasing an experimental "All Electric Vehicle" from Nissan for use in parking enforcement.
"This is a great way for us to try out using an electric vehicle for parking enforcement," commented Powell. "The department is able to lease the vehicle at a very low rate, and Nissan is handling the maintenance. All the department has to do is provide the electricity to run the vehicle."
The electric vehicle began service in the town during February 2002.
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