ParkNYC App Lets You Pay For Parking With Your Phone

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Paying for parking in the city just got easier.

ParkNYC, a free mobile app, will allow drivers to avoid the hassle of paying at the munimeter.

"You'll no long have to fumble for change, or get those little munimeter receipts and put them on the dashboard," Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg said. "You put in an initial $25 and then you can set it to automatically -- as the wallet draws down -- add more money."

The app will link license plate numbers to traffic agents' handheld devices, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday. Mobile alerts will let drivers know when their parking session is ending. They can also add time with the app.

There are no added fees.

Asked if the city won't generate as much revenue now that motorists have a warning system, Trottenberg replied, "The city is not trying to make money on parking fines, I'm happy to say."

The new system will be operated by private vendor Parkmobile LLC., and has been launched from 14th to 59th streets in midtown Manhattan.

It will be available to all 85,000 spots served by parking meters across the five boroughs by the summer.

Meters will still accept coins and credit or debit cards.

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