New Orlando parking meters to accept credit cards

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando plans to replace all of its old parking meters with new ones that accept credit cards.

Orlando has about 1,100 parking meters throughout downtown and they'll all be replaced by the end of 2014.

Resident Sharon Frawley is thrilled she won't have to worry about carrying change or getting a parking ticket anymore.

"I can't count how many I've gotten and they are all $22," said Frawley.

The city has tested a few of the new credit card parking meters on Central Avenue.

The devices will also have the ability to be reloaded using a smart phone.

But after the new meters are installed, the city can change parking rates for special events. Based on project documents, the meters could charge $10 for a sporting event that starts at a specific time.

City officials said taxpayer dollars won't be used to replace all of the meters. The funding will come from money already collected at meters and city parking garages.

WFTV