Today's cell phones can perform numerous tasks, and in Petoskey, Michigan, they can even be used to fund parking meters.
Instead of dropping coins into the meter itself, drivers can call a number posted on each meter, and pay for their parking expenses with a credit card. If extra time is needed, users can call again and add more money.
While the system may be practical for users, it's somewhat expensive to install. Petoskey pays New Parking, a Canadian firm that handles the remote-payment system, 30 cents monthly for each of its 900 parking meters plus 20 percent of all revenues collected. In its first year of operation, Petoskey expects to fork over nearly $7500 to run the system.
Source: Detroit Free Press