Hello, parking meter? I'm at The Container Store

It's officially The Future. Denver announced today that its Public Works Department is piloting a program in which shoppers at Cherry Creek North can call parking meters from their cell phones and deposit money via their credit cards -- and then call back to extend the time on their meters...

By Melanie Asmar

November 12, 2009

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It's officially The Future. Denver announced today that its Public Works Department is piloting a program in which shoppers at Cherry Creek North can call parking meters from their cell phones and deposit money via their credit cards -- and then call back to extend the time on their meters when they get held up in line at Hamilton Furs. The program -- which costs parkers an extra 35-cent service fee -- will be in place for six months, after which time it will be evaluated, partly based on feedback from an online survey.

Another perk of the so-called Pay-by-Phone option? The system will text you when the time on your meter is running low. "Hey! You have 3 minutes left. LMFAO!!!!!!! ;)"

Let's hope the meters don't learn how to sext.

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Melanie Asmar is a staff writer for Westword. She joined the paper in 2009 and has won awards for her stories about education, immigration and epic legal battles. Got a tip? She'd love to hear it.

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