Pay-by-plate parking

Last updated May 28, 2024

Pay-by-plate machines are a subset of ticket machines used for regulating parking in urban areas or in parking lots. They enable customers to purchase parking time by using their license plate number. The machines print a receipt that generally displays the location, machine number, start time, expiration time, amount paid, and license plate.

Principles

The pay-by-plate system is a parking payment method utilized by many cities, designed to serve multiple vehicles by requiring the driver to input the license plate information into a machine. This system boasts lower setup costs and requires less maintenance compared to traditional parking meters or pay and display machines. However, it prevents drivers from benefiting from any remaining time on parking meters.

In numerous urban areas, pay-by-plate systems have replaced roadside parking meters and pay and display machines. Cities may adopt this system to reap several advantages, including increased revenue, enhanced compliance with parking regulations, fewer disputes over parking tickets, improved utilization of parking spaces, and potentially a reduction in staffing requirements.

One notable advantage for drivers with the pay-by-plate system is the flexibility it offers. Unlike traditional parking systems like parking meters or pay by space, where payment is tied to a specific spot, pay-by-plate allows the payment to follow the driver. This means that if a driver decides to move their vehicle to another parking spot within the designated area, their parking status remains paid, reducing the risk of receiving a parking ticket.^[1]

Additionally, pay-by-plate systems often provide the convenience of purchasing parking time by phone. This means that drivers can extend their parking session remotely without needing to return to the payment machine. Moreover, pay-by-plate machines typically accept various forms of payment, including coins, credit cards, debit cards, and NFC for smartphone payments. This eliminates the need for drivers to carry large amounts of change and enhances convenience.

The acceptance of credit cards, debit cards, and NFC payments also benefits the city by reducing the frequency of machine emptying, thus lowering maintenance costs. Furthermore, it can help mitigate the risk of pilfering by employees responsible for emptying parking meters, enhancing overall security and efficiency of the parking system.^[1]

Enforcement

The enforcement of license plates in parking systems typically occurs through one of three methods: manual plate entry into a handheld device, Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) implemented in a handheld device, or vehicle-mounted ALPR systems.

Enforcement officers input the license plate information manually or automatically, depending on the technology used. The system then cross-references this information with payment records to verify if the vehicle is parked legally. Vehicles found to be parked illegally are issued citations either in real-time, directly on the windshield, or through a post-processed mail-out method.^[2]

Payments are collected from various sources, including phone payments and on-street payment machines. This comprehensive process enables parking enforcement officers to efficiently determine which vehicles have not complied with parking regulations, leading to increased revenue for the city through citations and improved compliance among parkers.^[1]

Handheld

Manual handheld devices rely on the user's input of license plate information and are susceptible to human error during data entry. Unlike handheld ALPR systems, they lack photographic evidence unless a separate photo is taken.^[2]

Handheld ALPR devices come in two variations: those that capture single-shot pictures for ALPR analysis and those that use live video mode to analyze a stream of images. Single-shot devices have access to the full resolution of the camera but take longer to process, while live video mode devices are limited to the resolution of the video stream but can analyze multiple images from slightly different angles. Currently, there is no conclusive study on which method yields the best ALPR read on a handheld device, as arguments can be made for and against both approaches.

Despite these considerations, handheld devices offer advantages over vehicle-mounted systems in terms of cost-effectiveness and the ability to enforce parking violations in tight spaces inaccessible to enforcement vehicles. Additionally, in regions where license plates are only displayed on the rear of vehicles, handheld ALPR systems are necessary as vehicle-mounted ALPR becomes impractical for vehicles parked in reverse. However, handheld systems cannot match the efficiency of vehicle-mounted ALPR systems, which can operate at speeds of up to 60 km/h.^[2]

Vehicle Mounted ALPR

In the context of pay-by-plate systems, payments are facilitated through either a push or pull mechanism from a web service, ensuring that enforcement vehicles have access to real-time payment information. ALPR-enabled parking enforcement vehicles are capable of traveling at speeds exceeding 60 km/h, scanning multiple license plates per second and cross-referencing them with payment records to verify compliance.

While handheld systems cannot match the efficiency of vehicle-mounted ALPR systems, the latter typically entail significantly higher costs. Moreover, vehicle-mounted ALPR systems may not be suitable for all areas, particularly those where enforcement vehicles are unable to capture license plate information due to factors such as parking angles, plate placement, or road geometry. In such scenarios, handheld ALPR devices offer a more practical solution for enforcement.^[2]

Installations

In Canada, the first pay-by-plate system was unveiled in Calgary, AB on September 20, 2007.^[3] Since then, the adoption of pay-by-plate systems has expanded significantly across various cities in Canada and the USA. For instance, recent updates highlight that Canadian cities like Toronto and Vancouver have integrated advanced pay-by-plate systems to enhance parking management and user convenience.

Pittsburgh, PA is implementing the largest pay-by-plate parking terminal project in the USA. This project started on July 26, 2012. As of January 2013, Pittsburgh Parking Authority has completed the installation of 550+ pay-by-plate parking terminals. Every parking terminal is modem enabled, and is transmitting all payments for parking in real-time.^[4]

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References

1 2 3 "How They Work: Pay-by-Plate Parking Meters". Parking Industry. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
1 2 3 4 "Automated License Plate Readers". sls.eff.org. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
↑ "Downtown Calgary Goes ParkPlus" (PDF) (Press release). Calgary Parking Authority. 2007-09-20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
↑ Smydo, Joe (20 July 2012). "Pay-by-plate parking starts next week". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 20 July 2012.^{[ dead link ]}

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[PI.ca-1] 1 2 3 "How They Work: Pay-by-Plate Parking Meters". Parking Industry. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[sls.eff-2] 1 2 3 4 "Automated License Plate Readers". sls.eff.org. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[3] "Downtown Calgary Goes ParkPlus" (PDF) (Press release). Calgary Parking Authority. 2007-09-20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-10-14.

[4] Smydo, Joe (20 July 2012). "Pay-by-plate parking starts next week". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 20 July 2012.^{[ dead link ]}

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