San Francisco Rolls Out Pay-By-Phone Parking Meters
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – San Francisco officials have launched a new service that will allow drivers to pay for a parking meter by using their smartphone.
The technology allows users with "equipped smartphones" to tap their devices on a meter's pay-by-phone sticker.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director Ed Reiskin said the sticker contains a chip that opens up an app, which will facilitate the payment.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
"It tells me where I'm parked. It tells me what time of day it is," said Reiskin. "And then it prompts me for a duration in minutes, so I can just type in five minutes."
Drivers also have the option of calling a toll-free number displayed in the meters for the same service.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said the program was launched in the Castro District because it's a bustling corridor and conveniences like this are needed to reduce congestion.
"Who wouldn't want to have this app right at their fingertips and preventing the hurt of a parking ticket," said Lee. "But also to use technology and blend it the right way."
The program will also text drivers when their meter is about to expire.
There is a 45-cent fee for each pay-by-phone transaction. The service is expected to be rolled out citywide by April.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
