Chicago Launches Pay-By-Phone Parking Meters

"Never mind that pocketful of quarters.

The days of fumbling for change and racing down the street to feed an expired parking meter are over for those willing to pay $15 up front.

One-thousand beeper-like devices are now on sale at City Hall and on-line allowing Chicago motorists to do what has become commonplace in Europe and Asia: pay for parking by phone.

The $15 payment will be credited to an I-PASS-style account and used to pay for parking in any one of the 33,000 legal parking spaces on Chicago streets.

Instead of carrying coins, cash or credit cards, motorists will display the 9-square-inch device inside the windshield on the passenger's side.

After pulling up to an available parking space, you'll call 1-888-486-7275, punch in the number of any one of six color-coded zones and the time you intend to stay.

A text message will be sent to the beeper, which displays the expiration time. A sticker on the back of the car will identify the user as a ParkMagic customer so parking enforcement aides know instantly to look for the device. If the beeper is lost or stolen, it cannot be accessed by anyone else.

If your lunch, business meeting or shopping spree runs longer than expected, you'll simply call again to add time — provided it won't put you over the limit."