CPA Revenue Control and Payment Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'ticket spitter' in parking facility terminology?
- A machine that destroys invalid or voided parking tickets
- An automated device at an entry lane that dispenses a time-stamped entry ticket to drivers (Correct answer)
- A handheld tool used by attendants to punch holes in tickets
- A software report that lists all unpaid parking violations
Correct answer: An automated device at an entry lane that dispenses a time-stamped entry ticket to drivers
A ticket spitter is the entry-lane device that automatically issues a time-stamped ticket to a driver upon arrival, recording the entry time for fee calculation.
Question 2: License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology in parking payment systems is primarily used to:
- Automatically send parking citations to violators via mail
- Identify vehicles and link them to payment records for ticketless parking transactions (Correct answer)
- Measure vehicle dimensions to assign appropriate parking spaces
- Generate advertising based on the owner's registration address
Correct answer: Identify vehicles and link them to payment records for ticketless parking transactions
LPR systems capture a vehicle's plate as the entry credential, allowing ticketless transactions where the plate itself ties together entry time and payment.
Question 3: What is the main purpose of conducting a cashier booth audit in a parking facility?
- To inspect the booth for cleanliness and compliance with health regulations
- To verify that the cash, receipts, and ticket counts match and detect any variances (Correct answer)
- To evaluate the interpersonal communication skills of the attendant
- To test whether the payment terminal hardware is functioning properly
Correct answer: To verify that the cash, receipts, and ticket counts match and detect any variances
A cashier booth audit cross-checks cash on hand against ticket records and receipts, identifying discrepancies that may indicate error or theft.
Question 4: A 'variance' in parking revenue accounting refers to:
- The difference between peak and off-peak hourly parking rates
- The gap between expected revenue based on tickets issued and actual cash collected (Correct answer)
- The percentage of spaces occupied at a given time
- The fluctuation in credit card processing fees from month to month
Correct answer: The gap between expected revenue based on tickets issued and actual cash collected
A variance is the discrepancy between what the transaction records say should have been collected and what was actually turned in, and it must be investigated and explained.
Question 5: Which of the following is a common security measure used to prevent revenue theft in parking facilities?
- Allowing only one attendant to work per shift to reduce confusion
- Installing surveillance cameras over cash drawers and conducting unannounced audits (Correct answer)
- Printing tickets without time stamps to simplify calculations
- Restricting access to the PARCS system to the general public
Correct answer: Installing surveillance cameras over cash drawers and conducting unannounced audits
Combining video surveillance over cash-handling areas with random, unannounced audits deters theft and quickly identifies irregularities.
Question 6: How should a parking attendant handle a customer who disputes the parking fee charged?
- Immediately refund the full amount to avoid confrontation
- Remain calm, explain the rate structure clearly, and escalate to a supervisor if unresolved (Correct answer)
- Refuse to process the exit until the customer agrees to pay in full
- Ignore the dispute and wave the customer through without collecting payment
Correct answer: Remain calm, explain the rate structure clearly, and escalate to a supervisor if unresolved
Attendants should use clear communication and facility rate documentation to address disputes professionally, involving a supervisor when needed to protect revenue and customer relations.
Question 7: What is a 'validation' program in a parking revenue context?
- A software process that confirms a customer's identity before granting facility access
- A discount or subsidy offered by a nearby business to reduce or eliminate a customer's parking fee (Correct answer)
- A system that validates the structural integrity of parking garage floors
- A compliance check to confirm that all PARCS equipment meets national standards
Correct answer: A discount or subsidy offered by a nearby business to reduce or eliminate a customer's parking fee
Validation programs allow affiliated merchants or businesses to stamp, scan, or issue codes that partially or fully subsidize a customer's parking fee as a customer-service incentive.
CPA Revenue Control and Payment Systems 2
What is a 'ticket spitter' in parking facility terminology?