ON THE CUTTING EDGE: Lovely Rita Meter Maid Might Need A New Gig
Vancouver, BC start-up Photo Violation Technologies Corp. has finally brought the lowly parking meter into the 21st Century with a prototype that accepts credit cards so drivers can park as long as they want to without worrying about getting ticketed. The new meter also accepts coins and bills, and drivers who use cash will get a text message when it’s time to feed the meter.
There’s an upside for municipalities that install the $5,000 meters, as well, reports The New York Times:
The meters also communicate with traffic officials who can track which meters are being used and which ones need to be ticketed and serviced. To ensure that drivers do not skip out without paying, sensors the size of hockey pucks buried in the asphalt detect when cars pull in. A camera inside the meter takes pictures of license plates to help with enforcement. …
They are being tested in Vancouver, San Francisco and here in Niagara Falls, where 96 of them were turned on last month (although the wireless feature hasn’t been activated yet).
The company estimates that cities could recoup the cost of the meters in six months.
Comments