A new generation of "smart" parking meters promises to make things trickier for drivers who try to cut corners when it comes to parking.
Dashing into a shop to do a quick errand without feeding the parking meter will no longer be an option. Neither will pulling into a spot and using the time left on the meter by someone who drove off early. And while there's a grace period before you get a ticket when the meter runs out, it's still going to cost you. Plus, there's no talking your way out of a ticket as you might with the Beatles' Lovely Rita meter maid.
Photo Violation Technologies Corp. is poised to start its first trial of tough, new, automated parking enforcers in the Vancouver area.
Unlike traditional meters, its PhotoViolationMeter is networked, using sensors embedded in the ground and a camera: When a car pulls into a spot, a picture is taken of the licence plate and billing starts. Try to drive off without paying, and a picture of the licence plate is sent to a central ticketing centre.
For those who try to foil the meters by covering the camera, an internal alarm detects when a picture can't be properly taken and alerts a parking officer to go to the spot and take a shot of the license plate with Photo Violation's wireless handheld unit. The meter also offers high-security zones, such as airports, the option of setting up the system to transmit photos of the licence plates to a parking enforcement centre, where they can be examined to identify suspicious or stolen vehicles.
Such technology helps improve compliance levels when it comes to paying parking fees, according to Photo Violation, a two-year-old company based in Vancouver.
This translates into revenue opportunities for municipal governments, according to chief executive officer Fred Mitschele, who figures his meters generate five times more revenue than existing coin meters or pay-and-display machines. A company spokeswoman estimates that the machines pay for themselves within six months.
"A lot of people have a problem where they're paying and that other guy gets away with [not paying]," he said in a telephone interview. "Now it's going to be fair for everyone."
An expanded range of payment methods makes it easier to pay. Most meters accept change, and some now take a credit card. Photo Violation's machines accept those payment methods, while also allowing users to pay via their cellphones or debit or smart cards.
Mr. Mitschele, who has had a 20-year-plus career in the parking industry, said his inspiration for these new parking meters comes from his own personal experience.
"I came up with this idea for the parking meter when I got tired all the time when I went to park and never had enough change for the meter," he said. "Like everyone else, you park, you want to pay, you don't have enough change, then you put what change you have in the meter and you go to your meeting and kind of take that chance."
He said the expanded number of payment options eliminates those difficult situations.
The technology isn't all bad news for drivers who are somewhat cavalier about parking. For instance, the meter helps decrease the risk of towing by notifying a driver that the spot they've chosen is about to become a rush-hour traffic lane. And rather than buying a set block of time, a "no fine" feature will keep adding charges to a person's credit card for the time that they park.
There is also a limited grace period during which users can pay for extra time if they get back to their car just after the meter has expired. If they miss the grace period deadline, they can choose to pay a discounted fine right at the meter.
"You wouldn't worry about getting a ticket that way," Mr. Mitschele said. "That's one of the very popular features the public seems to be really grasping onto and wanting."
