Allow credit for parking: N.C. Senate should allow parking meters to accept credit cards

Many people don't carry cash anymore — especially students. State lawmakers should recognize this simple fact of life as they consider a bill that would permit parking meters to accept credit cards.

The bill cleared the N.C. House in a unanimous vote Tuesday and is now in the Senate.

The idea makes practical sense.

Students residents and visitors to the town will no longer be forced to scramble under their car seats in search of quarters just to park their cars.

With these meters drivers will simply swipe their credit cards to pay for parking.

Additionally drivers might see a decline in parking tickets if paying for parking becomes easier.

If students merely have to swipe a card to pay for their parking they might be less inclined to avoid paying for parking — increasing revenue for the town.

Chapel Hill should also consider creating a system in which students could pay for parking through their One Card expense accounts though no mention of such plan has been made.

But first the bill must be passed.

Most students don't even remember an age without plastic as a form of payment.

This bill takes these new cultural norms into account and provides the means for cities to establish a service that better caters towards its citizens.

The N.C. Senate should recognize this as a need just as the N.C. House did.