By Katherine Beaty 

Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of articles by the author about human trafficking and the ways in which the parking industry can help combat it. The first article appears here. 

Human trafficking is real. It is documented, prosecuted, and devastating to its victims. 

But the way it is commonly discussed, particularly in relation to parking facilities, has drifted far from how it actually operates. In the gap between fear and facts, parking professionals are often pressured to respond to threats that feel urgent but lack evidence. 

This gap matters. Because when fear replaces understanding, industries like ours end up responding to myths instead of risks. 

This article focuses on the most persistent trafficking myths tied to parking environments, why they spread so easily, and what parking professionals should focus on instead. 

Before going further, it’s essential to clarify exactly what human trafficking entails. 

Under U.S. federal law, human trafficking involves the exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of sex or labor. It is defined not by movement, transportation, or a single encounter, but by ongoing control that limits a person’s ability to leave. 

Viral stories everyone has seen 

If you manage or operate parking facilities, you’ve likely heard these warnings, often from customers, staff, or social media posts forwarded “just in case”: 

• A zip tie on a car door handle means traffickers are marking you. 

• Flyers or notes on windshields are signals. 

• A car seat or stroller near a parked car is a lure. 

• A stranger asking for help in a parking garage is part of a setup. 

Circulated most visibly during Human Trafficking Awareness Month, these stories frequently frame the perceived threat in everyday transitional spaces, including parking facilities. 

They also share something else in common: No evidence exists to support claims that these are established trafficking tactics. 

Law enforcement agencies, anti-trafficking organizations, and the National Human Trafficking Hotline have publicly addressed these claims and consistently stated that such scenarios do not reflect the most common or documented patterns of human trafficking. 

That doesn’t mean parking environments are free of suspicious behavior. It means these specific narratives are urban legends, not operational reality. 

Why these myths spread so easily 

Before dismissing these stories outright, it’s worth understanding why they gain traction, especially in parking environments. 

Parking facilities are psychologically primed for fear. They are: 

• Transitional spaces 

• Often used alone 

• Associated with vulnerability and distraction 

• Linked to personal safety concerns 

When a viral post provides a straightforward “tell,” such as a zip tie, a note, or a prop, it helps people feel more in control. Recognizing such a sign enables them to steer clear of the danger. 

But trafficking doesn’t operate like a scavenger hunt. 

These stories spread not because people are irrational, but because fear combined with confidence spreads more quickly than subtlety. Sadly, that confidence is misplaced. 

What the reality looks like instead 

Human trafficking is rarely opportunistic in the way these myths suggest. 

The dominant trafficking patterns documented by the U.S. Department of Justice, the antitrafficking nonprofit organization Polaris, and other groups are characterized by: 

• Grooming and manipulation over time 

• Psychological coercion 

• Financial, housing, or immigration control 

• Dependency that restricts a victim’s ability to leave 

Most victims are trafficked by someone they know, rather than a stranger who accosts them in a parking garage, lot, or other transitional space. 

From the standpoint of a trafficker, public parking facilities are high-risk, high-visibility, and unpredictable locations. They are poor choices for recruitment, control, or sustained exploitation. 

This distinction matters. 

A necessary clarification 

My experience that prompted this series does not reflect the most common trafficking pattern described by law enforcement and advocacy organizations. Most human trafficking involves long-term grooming, coercion, and control, often by someone the victim already knows. 

My experience was different, and it is essential to say this plainly. Law enforcement did not characterize the incident as human trafficking. It was assessed as a targeting and surveillance situation that could have led to abduction or exploitation but had not reached that point. 

At the time, my fear was fueled in part by the same viral narratives and assumptions this article challenges. Those stories blurred the line between trafficking, abduction, and other forms of predatory crime. Understanding that distinction later was unsettling, but necessary. 

Although incidents like this are far less common than grooming-based trafficking, they do occur. They most often surface in transitional environments connected to travel and mobility. 

Why these myths matter to the parking industry 

At first glance, these stories may seem harmless, merely people looking out for one another. In reality, they create real challenges for us in the parking and mobility industry. Left unchallenged, these myths don’t just misinform the public; they quietly shape training decisions, staff behavior, and public perceptions of our industry. 

1. They increase fear without improving safety. 

Customers may feel unsafe in environments that are not inherently dangerous, leading to avoidance, complaints, or pressure to “do something” about a threat that doesn’t exist. 

2. They confuse frontline staff. 

Employees may believe they are expected to intervene in situations they are not trained or legally authorized to handle. 

3. They create reputational and liability risk. 

Facilities labeled as “dangerous” based on viral misinformation can suffer reputational damage. Worse, staff acting on myths can expose organizations to liability. 

4. They distract from real warning signs. 

When attention is focused on zip ties and flyers, legitimately concerning behaviors may be missed. 

Fear-based awareness does not make people safer. Accurate awareness does. 

What parking professionals should focus on instead 

Parking staff should never be trained to “identify trafficking.” This expectation is unrealistic and dangerous. 

What staff can be trained to recognize are concerning behaviors and situations that merit documentation and escalation. 

These include: 

• A person who appears unable to speak freely while another person answers for them 

• Someone who seems disoriented, fearful, or coached 

• A person being physically guided, blocked, or prevented from leaving 

• A vehicle that repeatedly circles, lingers without purpose, or appears to follow individuals 

• Attempts to move someone quickly to another location — “Come with me,” “Get in the car,” or “Let’s go somewhere else” 

These indicators don’t diagnose a crime. They signal when to observe more closely and escalate appropriately. 

A practical response model for parking operators 

Defensible and straightforward, the most effective approach for parking organizations involves observing, documenting, and escalating. 

Observe. Staff should not confront, accuse, or physically intervene unless there is an immediate threat and they are trained and authorized to do so. 

Document. When safe, note: 

• Time and location 

• Physical descriptions 

• Vehicle make, model, and license plate details 

• Direction of travel 

• Which cameras cover the area 

Escalate. Follow established protocols for contacting: 

• Supervisor or security team 

• Property management 

• Law enforcement when there is an immediate safety concern 

This approach enables parking teams to contribute meaningfully without becoming investigators or vigilantes. 

Talking to customers without fueling panic 

Parking professionals are often the first people customers speak to when they feel uneasy. The language used in those moments matters. 

Effective responses include: 

• “Thank you for letting us know. If you feel unsafe at any point, come directly to a staffed area.” 

• “We take safety concerns seriously, and we focus on what we can observe and respond to in real time.” 

• “If you notice someone following you or a vehicle circling repeatedly, tell us immediately; those are details we can act on.” 

The goal is to acknowledge concern while correcting misinformation. 

The takeaway 

Although real, human trafficking is not random and does not operate the way viral warnings suggest. 

When parking professionals respond to fear instead of facts, the result is confusion, misplaced vigilance, and failure to notice actual signals. When we respond with clarity, we protect both the people who use our facilities and the credibility of our profession. 

In the next article in this series, we will move beyond myths entirely and examine what national data actually shows about where trafficking occurs and the ways in which parking and mobility environments can fit within the broader picture of trafficking. 

Katherine Beaty is the CEO and president of Beaty Solutions. She can be reached at [email protected].