Is ParkMagic’s pay-by-phone program dead?
That’s the question a recent TimeOut Chicago article poses.
The Parking Ticket Geek has been asking the same question, over and over for months now.
If you’re not aware, ParkMagic is what’s called an in-car meter.
Instead of feeding quarters or credit cards into a parking meter or pay box, you use your cell phone to call a special number to add time to your ParkMagic unit.
Basically, it’s like I-Pass for parking meters.
The technology is impressive. For example, you can be finishing a glass of wine at a dinner that’s gone longer than expected and just call from your cellphone to add minutes to your ParkMagic unit. No more running back to your car to feed the meter to avoid a parking ticket.
Like the TOC article explains so well, user response to the original test program of 1000 units was so positive that it achieved a 97.6% approval rating from users, and a few thousand more people signed up for the waiting list.
But because the meter lease deal transferred control of the meter system from the city to Chicago Parking Meters, LLC, the program has been on hold.
But ParkMagic is not dead yet.
ParkMagic’s director of operations and chief evangelist Jim O’Connell is still hopeful the program can be expanded in Chicago, but had no further details to share with us.
ParkMagic has also been in talks with Evanston over the past year to provide it’s technology in that suburb immediately north of Chicago. But there’s been no news on that front as well according to O’Connell.
However, he did share that ParkMagic is about to sign a contract with Washington DC for its in-car meter technology. Additionally, ParkMagic is one of three finalists in San Francisco.
One hopes CPM will come to their senses and see the light with ParkMagic’s potential. If CPM is truly dedicated to serving the Chicago motorist, they’ll pull the trigger and let ParkMagic expand their program.
Understanding that payment compliance is a major goal of CPM for maximizing meter revenue, giving the motorist another convenient and easy way to pay like ParkMagic seems like a no-brainer.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
In the meantime, read Jake Malooley’s nice piece entitled “Phone Vex.”
Posted in 
Remember a little over a year ago when city crews were all over the city pasting parking meters with those “zone #” stickers of various bright colors. Well all that work and overtime was for nothing. Park Magic is on hold and even if it weren’t on hold, those old-style meters are all being or have been removed anyway. What a waste of time and money and how short-sighted. Oh well, that’s Chicago for you.
[...] ParkMagic In-Car Meter: This brilliant piece of technology allows drivers to remotely add time to their meters via their cell phones. It’s like I-Pass for parking. What’s the holdup? Why the delay? By fully embracing this technology, motorists will be happy to pay the new, increased rates. Let’s GO! [...]
I own one of the Park Magic meters, and with the rate increases, it has become a must-have tool in my parking arsenal. It is not a perfect device though:
1. You have to buy time in 1 hour increments, unlike a pay box where if you only want 45 min, you can only buy 45 min.
2. You can only buy 2 hours max at a time. While you can simply call in after 2 hours, it would be nice to buy more than that as I have often forgotten or been busy when the first 2 hours expired. Also, you can’t “top-up” early. You must first allow the unit to use up all your time before you can call-in again.
3. In-car meters are only good if the ticketing officer has a clear view of the device sitting on your dashboard. I’m not sure if I’m going to risk using the device when there’s an inch or more of snow covering my car.
4. The device requires 2 AA batteries, so you want to make sure to have a spare set ready when the low battery warning comes on.
Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised when I got my first parking ticket while using the device. I submitted my appeal to Park Magic, and they got the ticket rescinded in a day or two.