There was a time not all that long ago when I considered parking tickets a normal cost of doing business but that was back when we had parking meters that only accepted quarters. I haven’t gotten a ticket since the city of Saint Paul upgraded from old school meters to the machines that accept coin or credit card.
Now paying for parking is even easier with a mobile phone app called Parking Passport. I downloaded the app and have been using it a few times a week ever since. Yesterday I was able to extend my parking meter using the app before my meter expired without having to walk back to my car.
The app has a timer that starts up after payment is received so that I always know how much time I have left.
Parking passport is super easy to use. It asks for a zone which in St. Paul is 651 and then the parking space number, and the length of your stay. Money can either be pre-paid and stored in a wallet in the app or a credit card number can be stored, or a single payment can be made using a credit card.
The app stores my parking history which ought to come in handy at tax time. There is also the option of receipts via email. There is a .15 convenience fee.
I watch people struggle with the parking meters, they are not intuitive. The app makes it all much easier and it’s free too.
