U.K. town rolls out "intelligent" parking meters

via Engadget


It looks like Eastbourne in East Sussex, UK is the latest town to ditch its old school parking meters in favor of some decidedly more high-tech options, with the county's council even going so far as to boast that their new meters are among the most "secure and intelligent" in the country.

Costing a hefty £3,000 (or over $6,000) apiece, the meters pack a few more options than other newfangled meters, including their own SIM card that can be used to call for help if anyone attempts to bust one open. As with some similar meters, these ones, dubbed the Alfia 300 CI, are solar powered, and each is also covered by a CCTV system to catch vandals or would-be pocket change thieves in the act.

While 150 of the meters are reportedly already in place in the town, they're apparently being kept under wraps until the big unveiling on Monday, when the whole lot is set to go into service.