Cities Testing Wireless Tech for Parking Meters

How would you like a parking meter that tells you when you’re running out of time? Well, of course, most do that if you’re standing there, but how about one that will call you to let you know? How about a parking meter that creates little WiFi hotspots?

Well, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Niagara Falls, N.Y., city officials are testing the PhotoViolationMeter, from the Photo Violation Technologies Corporation, natch. The plan behind these new, smarter meters is to let consumers have a way to not only find out they’re running out of time, but to also make a wireless payment, so they can avoid that hefty parking ticket ($50 here in Chicago). Of course, that’s not why cities have parking meters: Officials are secretly (or not-so-secretly) hoping you’ll forget to feed the meter and feed their coffers instead (see: Denver Boot).

The flip side of the nifty wireless meters is that cities can get handheld devices from the fine folks at Photo Violation Tech that will take digital photos of your meter transgressions, making fine collection easier for city officials. If you did forget to feed the meter, you can pay your fine wirelessly right at the meter.

Source: PhotoViolation.com

Comments

[Dan]

Ah, I see, the ole double edged sword. Yes, the meter can inform you when you're running low, but it also can take a picture of your license plate the instant your time runs out. Or at least inform a nearby meter maid to make haste.

[Dave T.]

And Chicago already has an entire system set up to help low income folks overcome their debt from city fines. This looks to hurt anyone who doesn't own a wireless device.

And yeah you lose out on the "luck of the draw" aspect if you're five minutes late betting a meter maid won't be in the right place at the right time.

Yet again, in Chicago they are ALWAYS there the second the meter expires anyway...maybe they'd cut back on manpower though with these...

[lopez]

isn't that the point of the machine?

[Dan]

Meter maids are ninjas. That's the only reasonable explanation. :)