New parking meters in place

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005 | 8:21 a.m.

New parking meters that take coins, credit cards and can even be paid via cell phone are scheduled to be up and running Thursday morning around the yet-to-open Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas, city spokesman Jace Radke said.

About 150 parking spaces are covered by 15 new parking meters bought from the Australian company Reino Parking Systems, which also has offices in California. The meters look somewhat like shorter and narrower ATMs and are designed to handle payments for up to 10 parking spaces each.

Cell phone accounts can be set up through the Web site www.mparkusa.com. Those with an account will be able to receive text messages on their cell phones about 10 minutes before their meter time expires, and then can use their phones to purchase more time on the meter.

The meters are in the area surrounding the Regional Justice Center south of Bridger Avenue along Third Street and Clark and Bonneville avenues.

City Manager Doug Selby said if the new meters are well received by residents and work well, the city might purchase more for the downtown area.