Village of Pelham, NY Streamlines Parking Permitting and Enforcement with T2’s UPsafety®

City of Pelham, NY

Client Snapshot

Background

Pelham Village is part of the larger Town of Pelham. The Village is within close proximity to New York City and contains a dense population of over 7,000 people (US Census). Pelham sits in Westchester County, the oldest county in the state. The village covers only one square mile, but it’s packed with history and activity.

Over the years, Pelham has grown from farmland to a lively suburb, known for its tree-lined streets, historic homes, and easy access to Manhattan.

Parking is a big part of daily life. The village manages about 350 permitted spaces and 450 metered on-street spots. Parking brings in about $1 million each year, which is reinvested back into the village.

Pelham’s parking operation is vital. It supports local businesses, keeps traffic moving, and helps maintain the village’s small-town feel. With so many people coming and going, Pelham needs a parking system that works for everyone—residents, visitors, and staff alike.

The Challenge

Like many municipalities in the Northeast, Pelham’s parking operation has evolved over the years. Before switching to UPsafety®, Pelham relied on a few different vendors, most recently one of T2’s direct competitors, for enforcement, permitting, and mobile payments. However, the village faced several persistent challenges with this other city parking management vendor:

  • Aging Technology: Handheld enforcement devices were unreliable and falling apart after just a few years of use. The previous system lacked enhancements, which was a big concern for them.
  • Limited Functionality: T2’s competitor did not offer the flexibility they wanted, like limiting sales of permits if someone had unpaid tickets. There were also limitations in enforcement features, such as notably the inability to mandate photo evidence for every citation, which helps reduce appeals.
  • Poor Support: Getting help from the previous vendor was difficult. Simple tasks, like ordering ticket paper, were cumbersome. “You couldn’t even get a live person on the phone,” said Chris Scelza, Pelham’s Village Administrator. “I don’t have time for that. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone.”
  • Fragmented Processes: The old system made it hard to manage enforcement, permits, and payments in one place. Integration with the court system was limited, and reporting was cumbersome.
  • Community Needs: With parking revenue making up a significant portion of the village’s budget, Pelham needed a reliable, efficient solution that could keep up with the demands of a busy, commuter-friendly suburb.

The Solution

In July 2025, Pelham went live with UPsafety, after being approached by T2’s John Holland, a retired police chief. UPsafety’s modern, unified approach to parking management impressed Chris Selza. The transition was smooth, thanks to a dedicated project team and responsive support.

Key improvements included:

  • Modern Enforcement Tools: Pelham deployed 6 new UPsafety XF handhelds for its 2 full-time parking enforcement officers and 23 police officers. The devices are rugged, reliable, and fully integrated with the UPsafety platform. With UPsafety’s flexible platform, the village can require officers to capture photos as part of the ticket issuance process.
  • Flexible Permitting: With UPsafety, Pelham can offer unlimited permit types, all managed virtually. Residents and visitors can set up permits online, making life easier for both staff and the community. In UPsafety, you can prohibit the sale of a permit if a patron has an outstanding violation.
  • Seamless Process with Town of Pelham Courts: Their court system has access to the UPsafety software. Tickets are geo-tagged, and all evidence—photos, location data, and more—is instantly available to the court for adjudication.
  • Responsive Support: “The employee difference between T2 Systems and our previous vendor is almost night and day,” Chris shared. “Our project manager, Jennifer Watson, was fantastic. If I need something, I can get someone on the phone right away. That’s important for us.”
  • Continuous Improvement: Even in the first month, Chris noted that they saw multiple platform enhancements. “We’re actively engaged with UPsafety, submitting enhancement requests and feedback. It’s a great solution, and we want to see it get even better.”

The Results

Streamlined Operations
With UPsafety, Pelham has consolidated enforcement, permitting, and reporting into a single, intuitive platform. Officers and command staff have found the system easy to use, with only minor adjustments needed during the initial transition.

“I haven’t heard anything negative from the command staff,” Chris noted. “Just a few configuration tweaks, which we handled right away.”

Better Data, Stronger Enforcement
Every ticket is now backed by robust evidence—geo-location, photos, and detailed data—making it much harder to challenge citations.

“There’s so much information now, it’s really hard to challenge a ticket,” Chris said. “I love that we can mandate a photo for every citation. It’s so much more transparent.”

Improved Reporting
The new system offers powerful, customizable reporting.

“The reporting is really powerful. You can pull any type of data field you need,” Chris explained.

Virtual Permitting and Payments
Residents and businesses can now manage permits and pay citations online, reducing foot traffic at Village Hall and making the process more convenient for everyone.

Community Impact
Parking revenue remains strong, with $30,000 a month in app transactions and $3,700 a week in traditional coin collections. Pelham is also rolling out 150 new decorative meters in its downtown, balancing traditional and modern convenience for payments using UPsafety’s integrations with other T2 products and 3rd party systems.

A True Partnership:
Chris is quick to recommend UPsafety and T2 to his peers in Westchester County and beyond.

“I tell all my administrator and manager colleagues about UPsafety. It’s something I believe in. The support, the functionality, the ability to offer more to our residents—it’s made a real difference for us.”

The Village of Pelham’s experience shows how even a small community can benefit from modern, unified parking technology. With UPsafety and T2, Pelham has streamlined its operations, improved service for residents, and set itself up for continued success as a vibrant, historic village just outside New York City.

Ready for a city permit and enforcement solution that makes it easy for your officers, back-office, residents, and visitors?

👉 Contact us to schedule a demo of UPsafety today!

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Posted on

August 27, 2025