Parking Meter Reads Plates, Calls Your Cell

A new SELF-ENFORCING parking meter called the PhotoViolationMeter, from Photo Violation Technologies Corp., uses a combination of sensors, photography, and wireless technology to enforce parking rules and help drivers avoid getting towed. The meter accepts coins, but also credit cards, debit cards, smart cards or phone payments. The meter can charge according to how long the car is there -- payment stops when the car pulls away. You can give the meter your phone number, and it will notify you in time to move your car before it gets towed. The meter also takes a picture of car license plates, which are sent to a central computer for "reading" to record who parked where when (civil liberty types will have a field day with this feature). The meter will be tested beginning in January, and rolled out for public use shortly thereafter.