Council OKs Parking Meters That Accept Credit Cards

City Council on Thursday voted 6-0 to approve the final reading of an ordinance that raises parking meter fees in zones near the beach and boardwalk.

In exchange, Ocean City residents and visitors will be able to take advantage of the convenience of parking meters that accept credit cards.

The city experimented with the technology in 2012 with a limited number of meters and received positive feedback from motorists who enjoyed not having to find enough coins to feed the meters.

For 2013, Ocean City will expand the program to replace 800 traditional meters. The new meters would be available throughout most of the streets close to the Ocean City Boardwalk, on the north-end beachfront along Beach Road and E. Atlantic Boulevard and on the far south end along Central Avenue and 59th Street. The program also will include parking lots near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge, across from Ocean City High School, and at 14th and 59th streets. (See attached PDF for complete list.)

The amended ordinance raises fees for the new credit-card meters from 25 cents per 15 minutes to 25 cents per 10 minutes (or $1.50 per hour). 

The fee increase would bring Ocean City an estimated $400,000 in additional revenue in the season when meters are active (May through September), according to Finance Director Frank Donato. The increase will cover the estimated $150,000 it will take to lease the new credit-card-capable meter caps and bring an additional $250,000 in revenue to the city.

The meters will accept credit cards, debit cards or coins. For card payments, parking will be available only in half-hour increments. Four-hour or six-hour maximum parking limits will remain in effect.