Is Lamorinda Ready For Digital Parking Meters, WiFi Hotspots, and Signboards?

First it was downtown. Then it was a on I-680. Next, it looks like the city's flirtation with all things high-tech will manifest with parking meters that take credit and debit cards. 

The City Council on Wednesday approved a 90-day test run of new parking meters on Main Street that will signal City Hall when one is broken, take either coins or credit cards, and alert parking enforcement when someone parks without paying.

According to city engineer Tim Tucker, the new meters, manufactured by IPS Group of San Diego, will be easily installed into the old meter shells. The company claims that revenues from the new meters will pay for the $75,000 test run. If it's successful, the city will spend about $200,000 on the new meters downtown.

"I don't carry a lot of coins around any more," said Mayor Rob Schroder, noting similar meters near his Walnut Creek office are "very efficient." 

One of the advantages of the meters is the fact that people tend to add more time than they need when they're using credit or debit cards, Tucker said possibly resulting in people taking more time to shop and dine downtown. 

Councilwoman Janet Kennedy asked about the possibility of "skimmers," or devices that let criminals read pin numbers and credit card information from card readers. 

Tucker said that the devices don't store information, but use wireless technology to phone it in. 

"Are we also contemplating an evaluation of the meter rates," asked Councilwoman Lara DeLaney, noting that Walnut Creek and other Contra Costa cities charge $1 per hour, while Martinez charges 50 cents. 

She also asked for an end to free juror parking, saying that they "should pay for the use of our streets." 

Schroder agreed, pointing out that the Walnut Creek court parking is mostly at parking garages that charge people to park. 

Do you support the idea of parking meters downtown that take credit and debit cards? Let us know in the comments.