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T[_5_]

In article >,
says...
> Dave wrote on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:47:48 -0500:
>
> >> A few towns near here that have metered parking in municipal parking
> >> lots now have meters where you can also swipe a
> >> credit/debit card.
>
> > I hate the new machines where you put money into a central
> > meter and get a ticket to stick on in the front window of your
>
> >. One of the
> > smaller local cities smartened up and revitalized downtown by tearing
> > out the parking meters.
>
> >As for handicapped parking, it should only be valid for those drivers
> >who have a mobility problem. If there is an able bodied person they
> >should drop the disabled person off at the door and then park out in
> >the lot with everyone else. Use of a disabled parking permit by someone
> >other than the named permit holder should result in confiscation of the
> >permit.
>
> Parking meters were oriiginally introduced so that people would not
> leave their cars when they did not need to. In other words, to
> facilitate commerce. Such is no longer the case since municipalities
> short sightedly often regard them as cash cows.
>
> I would advise some caution and charity in suspecting people of
> mis-using handicapped permits and spaces since some perfectly healthy
> looking people cannot walk long distances.

City of Providence installed over 2,000 more parking meters in recent
years. In some instances they have a solar powered kiosk that provides
slips proving you paid for parking. The kiosks accept coin, cash or
credit/debit cards. No more fishing for change.

They also gave over parking enforcement to a private company. I've seen
their 'enforcers' swagger down the road, it's pretty funny.

They also run a van around with cameras mounted at both left and right.
The cameras hook into a computer and as they drive along the computer
reads the license plates on the cars looking for scoflaws who have 2
outstanding tickets.