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Reno may install smart parking meters
19 Mar 2010

Authorities in Reno, Nevada are considering installing parking meters which make use of contactless smart card technology so that drivers need no longer carry change with them to pay.

The cards would be pre-paid and money would then be automatically deducted when used, in a similar system to that in operation in the UK by sQuidcard.

Speaking to the Las Vegas Sun one resident, Mike Van Houten, said: "I love it when technology is used to increase revenue and convenience."

There are however three options open to the City Council, the paper reports, and a contactless smart card system is but one of those.

It is also possible that touch screen kiosks could be introduced as pay stations and, with the schemes set to cost up to $1 million to implement, the 14 year old parking meters could well just be kept as they are.

Transit systems, retail outlets and canteens around the globe are making use of contactless payment technologies, while smart cards have been used for purposes as diverse as claiming welfare in New Delhi and gaining access to patient information in hospitals.