an 'annus horribilis’ for parking meters

8/9/2019 An 'annus horribilis for parking meters

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A report inLe Figaro, suggested that around fifty youngsters,

invariably different ones each day, are driven in from poorer areas and

left to work openly in pairs. They leave the cash in a safe place wheretheir 'leader' can find it. Residents who step in to prevent thefts are

often threatened by minders keeping on eye on the children from a

distance.

According to the Mayor, the municipal police are not equipped to deal

adequately with the situation as they are overwhelmed by the number of,often non-French speaking, minors and are not permitted to frisk them for

cash. Other authorities prefer not to get involved. As a result, even

though hundreds of arrests have been made, the delinquents are soon

released to make further profit from the meters. Dominique Jalenques, theofficial responsible for security in Boulogne, says that the current

legislation (originally intended to protect young people) is totally

inadequate for dealing with the situation. Attempts to change the law

were, he says, vetoed by the previous Socialist government. Onepossibility, which is being discussed with the Roumanian authorities,

would be to repatriate the youngsters to their country of origin.

Boulogne has been losing 76,000 (51,000) a month on its meters, according to

Fourcade. The affair has become a major local issue, with residents up-in-arms about the

lack of official activity. Motorists have said they would rather park illegally, paying finesto the State, than put money into the thieves' pockets. People say they are 'shocked ' and

'horrified' at the way the situation has been accepted: "It's unfair: everyone stands by

while the meters are raided, yet motorists are still being given parking tickets." Allattempts at protecting the meters (including the use of guard dogs) have failed to resolve

the problem.

Foucade says that taking all the meters out of service, and making parking

free, was one option. This was clearly impractical, for Boulogne would

have become a gigantic public car park for the whole of the west of Paris,bringing the town to a standstill (in addition, all-day parking is thought

to kill off a street's commerce). However, during July and August 2002,

parking in Boulogne was made free, with a return to full charges in

September. During the autumn, parking attendants were instructed to take a'flexible' approach to their work. Motorists, at the same time, have been

asked not to abuse the more relaxed policy and to continue respecting the

Highway Code.

For the future, a more 'radical' approach, using a card-based system, has

been agreed. The original aim was to replace all Boulogne's 562coin-operated meters by the end of the year, with a short period of dual

(card/cash) operation (allowing motorists to get used to the new

system) before the old machines are finally withdrawn in January 2003. As

a result, an order was placed for 574 solar-powered Schlumberger Stelio


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pay-and-display machines (appropriately in green), with 4 SAM (Security

Access Module) readers capable of transmitting data via GSM links. These

will use new-generation rechargeable smart cards matching the standard ofthe BMS (Billetique Monitique Services) consortium - which is behind most

French payment card issuers.

Initially, temporary smart cards, expiring in March 2003, are being

distributed free-of-charge by parking attendants, banks and the town hall

in order to familiarise motorists with the new system. New cards, issuedafter that date, (which will be empty when purchased) will have a year's

validity at a cost of 6-10 - depending on the type of card and the

vendor's policy. Once loaded, these cards will be usable for six months

from beyond expiry date: there are no plans to allow the transfer of valuefrom one card to another.

With Boulogne's introduction of the new cards, parking will be integrated

into the Moneo electronic-purse, which is supported by banks, as well asby the main postal, transport and telecommunications operators. Many shops

will also accept Moneo cards for low-value transactions (up to 30/20).By the end of the year, most municipalities in the Paris region will have

adopted Moneo-based parking and a card purchased in one town will be valid

anywhere in France that uses the system. Current plans are to link

GeldKarte (the electronic purse used in Germany and Luxembourg) to Moneoand travellers from these countries will be able to use their cards in

France, too. This will not, however, apply to drivers from other

countries, such as Britain.

Four types of card will be available, with the more sophisticated ones

being incorporated into bank cards (through an extra module). Users willbe able to load cash from their bank or post office accounts up to a

maximum of 100. Re-valuing machines will be available at a wide range of

locations (in the future, it is hoped that it will also be possible todownload value onto Moneo cards via public telephones). Once the cards'

stored value falls below 7.62 (5.08) payment terminals will indicate the

need to increase the balance.

All Boulogne's on-street sites, as well as its three underground public

car parks, are currently operated under contract by Vinci Park who are

responsible both for collecting the money and for maintenance. Vinci Parkis financing the purchase of the new equipment, although the Moneo-related

elements are under the municipality's control.

The introduction of the new system leaves several issues unresolved. While

it will simplify the collection of parking fees, reduce theft, fraud and

vandalism, and improve financial control, non-card holders (such as

British visitors) arriving outside banking hours will have no means of


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paying for parking (and casual visitors will need to buy the cards, too -

even if they get little use from them). Furthermore, members of a family

sharing a car will each need their own cards: no leaving a single card inthe glove compartment for anyone to use!

The original idea was to remove all the coin-operated parking meters inBoulogne - making it the first town in France to go card-only.

However, this plan hit a legal snag. French law requires that citizensalways have the option of cash payment (up to the legal-tender

limits). So, a driver with insufficient coins (or who cannot find a

working coin machine) can appeal against a fine on the grounds that it was

impossible to pay.

As a result, Boulogne council has decided that each of the town's seven

districts will continue to have one or two coin-operated machines (and

these must, of course, be guaranteed to be in working order). There willalso be a few coin-operated Moneo units (so that anyone without a Moneo

card, or a French bank account, can use coins to buy a loaded card or toload a non-bank card). Provided they can find such a unit.

Once the new system is fully-installed, the theft issue should have been

resolved: bad news for the unofficial meter-emptiers. There is, however,another problem: as Jalenques points out, the card system will encourage

gangs to migrate to those nearby towns, such as Argenteuil, which are

still using coin meters - a move that won't please neighbouring councils.

an 'annus horribilis’ for parking meters

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