Master Meter

Meter maids, move over. Parking meter management has a new master device that aims to save meter martyrs while scourging meter cheaters. By offering multiple ways to pay — coins, phone or debit cards and a credit card swipe that avoids fines by automatically adding money — the intelligent device promises to even the parking field so that no one pays too much — or too little.

Options include a “grace period” feature that allows tardy parkers to pay at the meter for expired time and an “instant notification” feature that informs the car owner of rush-hour or no-parking conditions.

Those who try to dash into a spot and then leave without paying will find that the device, sensing the transgression, has imaged their cars and license plates to provide conclusive evidence.

Photo Violation Technologies Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the manufacturer of this übermeter, says that the system generates more than five times the revenue of current coin meters — and does so much more evenhandedly.

Which should be some compensation for the uncomfortable feeling that Big Meter is watching us.