Enhanced parking meter utilizing user identification technology

A method for limiting the duration in which a user of a first parking meter associated with a first parking space may park at said first parking meter, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving identifying data from the user of the first parking space;
• b. allowing said user to pay for a parking cycle;
• and
• c. rejecting additional payment made to said first parking meter when conditions indicate that said user has exceeded a maximum allowable parking time limit at said first parking meter.

A parking meter system to discourage a user from parking a vehicle within a group of parking spaces beyond a maximum parking time, comprising:

• a. a plurality of parking spaces forming a group, each such parking space having a parking meter associated therewith;
• b. each parking meter associated with a detector for detecting the presence of a vehicle in each such parking space;
• c. each parking meter associated with a data receiving element for receiving identifying data relative to the use of such parking space;
• d. each parking meter associated with a payment receiving element responsive to a payment made for parking a vehicle at each such parking space;
• e. a communication network coupling the plurality of parking meters together, said communication network being able to detect that said user is attempting to park within the group of parking spaces beyond a maximum permitted duration, said communication network causing said plurality of parking meters to refuse further payment from said user.

A parking meter system for limiting the time duration in which an individual may park at least one parking meter comprising:

• a. a data receiving element associated with at least one parking meter and generally proximate to at least one parking space which receives identifying data relative to the use of said at least one parking space;
• b. a payment receiving element associated with at least one parking meter and generally proximate to said at least one parking space which is responsive to a payment made for parking a vehicle at said at least one parking space;
• and
• c. a data processor associated with said at least one parking meter that allows for the rejection of additional payment made to said at least one parking meter when conditions indicate that said user has exceeded a predetermined maximum allowable parking time limit.

A method of discouraging a user from parking a vehicle within a group of parking spaces beyond a maximum parking time, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a parking meter associated with each of a plurality of parking spaces forming said group of parking spaces;
• b. providing a data receiving element associated with each of said parking meter for receiving identifying data relative to the use of said parking space;
• c. providing a payment receiving element associated with each of said parking meter responsive to a payment made for parking a vehicle at each such parking space;
• d. networking the plurality of parking meters together;
• and
• e. detecting that the user is attempting to park within the group of parking spaces beyond a maximum permitted duration, and causing each of the plurality of parking meters to refuse further payment from such user.

A method for limiting the duration in which a user of a parking meter associated with a plurality of parking spaces may park at said meter, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving identifying data from the user of the parking meter;
• b. allowing said user to pay for a parking cycle;
• and
• c. rejecting additional payment made to said parking meter when conditions indicate that said user has exceeded a maximum allowable parking time at said parking meter.