Municipality of Cefalu, Italy - Parking fine printers provide simple solution to parking problems.

We think of Fefalu in sicily with its famous Norman-Arabic Cathedral as a romantic holiday destination, famous for its narrow winding roads and beautiful beach.

But every weekend, particularly during the holiday season, there is a huge influx of traffic which creates a difficult problem for the local government authority, the Municipality of Cefalu. So great is the number of cars and vans that it even becomes dangerous to walk along the streets and parking has become a huge problem.

Over recent months, the Municipality Traffic Wardens have been issued with a portable belt-carried printer to issue parking fines on the spot. The EXTECH MST IV thermal printer weighs less than 400 grammes, including battery and paper roll. IrDA and RS232 communications are included and flash memory is available for a variety of downloadable options, including fonts, graphics and forms.

The use of wireless technology (wireless LANs, Bluetooth and Infra-red) plus low-cost handheld computer systems powered by Windows CE and Palm operating systems and enabling more front line workers to complete transactions and issue parking fines and receipts at the location of issue.

Cefalus Traffic Wardens issue around 500 parking fine tickets per day in the summer season, contributing a substantial credit to the Municipality budget. The scheme has also been replicated in many other locations throughout the world.