More Meter Revenue But Fewer Parking Tickets Issued

SF Park is an outstanding success when measured by 'ticket anxiety'; i.e. the new program allows motorists to reduce the likelihood of being ticketed by making payment easier and allowing for longer parking stays, thus avoiding a $55-65 citation.

1 minute read

January 9, 2012, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid

Payment by credit card. Pay for extra time. Pay remotely by smart phone. All these innovations enable motorists to escaped the dreaded citation. These improvements in the SF Park program are in addition to 'dynamic pricing' of parking spaces that works to increase parking space availability by increasing prices when spaces are in greatest demand.

"The city's parking cops are issuing fewer tickets for meter violations in neighborhoods where the experiment has been applied.

Prior to the new meters, 55 percent of the revenue came from payments drivers used to buy time and 45 percent from fines. After the new meters went in, the amount from payments increased to 70 percent and the amount from fines plummeted to 30 percent.

The old meters in neighborhoods not covered by SFpark only accept payment by coins and prepaid parking cards. In addition, the new meters have less restrictive time limits, generally allowing drivers to park for four hours or more. For a 45-cent fee, drivers even can add more time remotely if their meter is about to expire."

Thanks to MTC-ABAG Library

FULL STORY: SF's new parking program reduces ticketing anxiety

Thursday, January 5, 2012 in San Francisco Chronicle

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