# East Lansing Approves AI Parking Enforcement Contract

East Lansing approved a contract with Municipal Parking Services to install and operate seven AI-enabled SafetySticks for downtown no-parking enforcement, with deployment expected roughly one month after the October 5, 2026 report. The city pays no upfront costs; the contractor receives half of each paid $35 citation plus a $5 mailing fee per violation. Company and city staff review evidence before citations are submitted to court. A pilot recorded 1,340 potential violations without issuing citations, while local businesses and officials raised concerns about loading access, appeals, and automated enforcement.

- **Why this matters:** The agreement is a municipal enforcement procurement using a revenue-share model rather than a direct city payment. Public buyers evaluating similar arrangements can compare the payment structure with expected citation revenue and account for how payment incentives may affect public confidence.
- The contract includes human review before court submission, a relevant operational safeguard for agencies considering automated evidence collection and enforcement.
- Contractors pursuing municipal technology work should note the importance of addressing loading access, appeal processes, and community concerns alongside system performance.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Information Technology, Public Safety
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 05, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of East Lansing
- East Lansing Police Department
- East Lansing Department of Parking and Code Enforcement
- 54B District Court

### Vendors
- Municipal Parking Services Inc. (Contractor operating the enforcement system)

### Key Quotes
> It's enough of a challenge it could drive me out of East Lansing as a business owner.
> — Allie Siarto, business owner

> We do have a lot of projects happening downtown. It does create some issues.
> — Chuck Grigsby, Mayor Pro Tem of East Lansing

### Sources
- [East Lansing to deploy artificial intelligence for parking enforcement  | Belleville News-Democrat](https://www.bnd.com/news/nation-world/national/article317494642.html) - Belleville News-Democrat