Vehicle violation enforcement system and method

• US 20050279820A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPT, LLC
• Original Assignee: IPT, LLC
• Inventors: Berman, Larry, Moynihan, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,731,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/093 comprising ground-engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5841 Rotation blocking

Abstract

A PDA device (or a PC) is used by a summons issuing person to record the ID of a vehicle boot RFID tag and to transmit to the tag and to a host entity violation data such as summons number, license number, time and date stamp, issuing person ID, location of the vehicle, scofflaw data and so on preentered in the PDA, entered by the issuing person and also by a preferred communication network. This data may be entered into the PDA electronically via a communication network such as the internet or LAN system or manually via a keyboard and telephone communication. The host entity has a data base which is uploaded with this information and has correlation of RFID tag numbers to an unlock combination number for each boot. When the boot is attached to a vehicle, which is owned or driven by a scofflaw, this PDA data is transmitted to the host entity whose contact telephone number is attached to the vehicle being booted. The driver contacts the entity to pay the fine and receive in return the unlock combination. A deposit for the boot is also given in return for the combination. When the boot is returned, the deposit is returned to the driver. The driver thus can release and remove the boot within minutes of returning to the vehicle and can return the boot at his leisure.

Claims

1. A motor vehicular parking enforcement system comprising:

a vehicle wheel boot for immobilizing a parking violation vehicle, the boot having a lock encoded with a boot release code for releasing the boot from the wheel;

an RFID tag having a unique ID attached to the boot including memory and a transmitter/receiver communication arrangement for receiving, storing and transmitting first information which may include the tag unique ID;

a handheld PDA device includes an RFID reader and transmitter, the device for entering, receiving, storing and transmitting second information at least to and from the tag including the tag unique ID and violation data of the parking violation; and

a communications system for communicating the second information to an entity host computer system.

2. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the device includes a camera for taking and transmitting a photograph of the violation vehicle to the entity host computer system.

3. The enforcement system of claim 1 further including a summons issuing governing body data base (SDB) containing scofflaw data and wherein the host computer system includes a link to the communication system for communicating with the SDB to determine the scofflaw status of the violation vehicle and for communicating this status to the entity host computer system.

4. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the device includes a communication arrangement for communicating with a summons issuing governing body data base (SDB) containing scofflaw data for storing the scofflaw data in the device memory.

5. The enforcement system of claim 4 wherein the host system includes a communication link for communicating with the SDB to determine and store the scofflaw status of the violation vehicle in the host system memory.

6. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the entity host system includes a data base containing the boot release code corresponding to the unique RFID tag ID, the host system including a CPU for corresponding the release code to the boot unique ID for accessing and permitting the communication of the release code to the person associated with the violation vehicle in return for payment of all outstanding fine(s) due from the person.

7. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the PDA includes a key pad for entering summons data wherein the data entered includes the name and/or related information regarding the person issuing the summons for the violation, the date, the time, the location selected from codes stored in memory, the license number and state of the vehicle registration, the summons number, and a violation code.

8. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the PDA includes a modem for communicating to the host system summons and RFID tag data to the host system and for communicating to a municipality computer system containing scofflaw data for transferring scofflaw data to the PDA.

9. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the host system includes a data base with all boot release codes and a CPU for accessing the release code from the host data base for all RFID tags and the corresponding unique RFID codes for which a summons is issued for a parking violation.

10. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the PDA includes a memory for storing entered current vehicle violation data representing the summons being issued for the current violation and RFID read data including the unique RFID code and a communication system for communicating the stored violation data including scofflaw data from past vehicle violations that have been ignored, the RFID read data and the current violation data to the host system.

11. The enforcement system of claim 1 wherein the host system includes a communication link for communicating to a tow operator the status of the fine payment, the location of the parking violation vehicle and the unlock code for the boot for removal of the boot and towing of the parking violation vehicle by the tow operator.

12. A method for enforcing parking violations comprising communicating the violation scofflaw status, the location and ID of a vehicle locking boot attached to a vehicle to a host system controlled by an entity representing a summons issuing controlling governing body, communicating the identification of the host system controlling entity to the driver of the parking violation vehicle for payment of the associated fine and for communicating the boot release code to the driver upon payment of the fine.

13. The method of claim 12 including requiring the driver to pay a deposit in return for the driver receiving the boot release code and providing for the return of the deposit to the driver upon returning the boot to a boot collection depot.

14. The method of claim 13 including providing for the payment of the associated fine to the entity.

15. The method of claim 12 including:

attaching an RFID tag with a unique code and memory to the boot, the boot having an unlock code;

attaching the boot to a vehicle in scofflaw violation of a plurality of parking laws;

communicating data manifesting the violation and scofflaw status of the vehicle, the unique code and location of the vehicle to the host system entity; and

transmitting information to the person driving the scofflaw violation vehicle to enable the person to contact the entity for payment of the fine associated with the scofflaw violations.

16. A system for enforcing parking violations comprising:

a PDA for storing information including parking violation including scofflaw status of a parking violation vehicle, the location and unique ID of a vehicle locking boot attached to and for immobilizing the parking violation vehicle and for communicating this information to an entity host system; and

a communication system for communicating the identification of the entity to the driver of the parking violation vehicle for payment of the associated fine;

the host system including a computer and data base for storing the boot ID and boot release code for enabling the communication via the communication system of the boot release code to the driver upon payment of the fine.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the boot includes an RFID tag having memory and a unique ID associated with the boot, the PDA having an RFID tag reader and including a memory and keypad for receiving and storing the scofflaw status of the violation vehicle and for recording the details of the violation data, the boot RFID tag ID and location of the boot.

18. The system of claim 16 including a further communication system for permitting the entity and PDA to communicate to a summons issuing governing body data base to determine the scofflaw violation data status of the violation vehicle and for communication to an entity data base the details of the scofflaw violation data, the boot ID and location of the boot.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the further communicating system is arranged to permit the PDA to communicate with the host system for transferring violation data stored in its memory.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the PDA and boot include respective RFID reader and RFID tag.

21. The system of claim 16 including an ID medium with the identity of the host entity contact information imprinted thereon for attachment to the violation vehicle.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the host system includes a data base in which the boot RFID unique ID is correlated with a corresponding boot release code.

23. The system of claim 16 wherein the PDA includes a key pad for entering PDA data and wherein the PDA data entered includes the name of the person issuing the summons for the violation, the RFID unique code, the date, the time, the location selected from codes stored in memory, the license number and state of the vehicle registration, the summons number, the violation code, and scofflaw status data.

24. The system of claim 16 further including a governing body data base of scofflaw data, a card reader/writer associated with the governing body data base for copying scofflaw data to a card associated with the reader/writer, the card for transferring the scofflaw data to the PDA.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the PDA includes a card reader for copying scofflaw data into the PDA.