Westmount unveils new parking meter system

A new parking system unveiled in Westmount will give motorists the ability to move their cars without having to pay for a new spot.

With the new meters, designated spots have been done away with. Drivers instead enter their license plate number into a machine on the street, deposit their money, and are free to move their car to other spots within Westmount.

Westmount Mayor Peter Trent said the city had received complaints regarding the city’s old coin-operated meters.

“The beauty of this is all you have to do is remember your license plate, and if you forget it, just look at the back of your car, so it’s pretty simple,” said Trent. “What’s also is interesting about the system is you pay for, say two hours, and you decide to move somewhere else in Westmount, you don’t pay any extra.”

The city anticipates a 15 per cent increase in the number of parking spots in Westmount as a result of the new system.

While other cities in Canada have unveiled similar systems, Westmount is the first city in Quebec to use it.