Watch CBS News

Somerville, New Jersey Still Has Penny Parking Meters

SOMERVILLE, NJ (WCBS 880) - What can you get for a penny these days?

WCBS 880's Peter Haskell: The Mayor Loves Them!

Podcast

You can't get a baseball card or piece of gum. You can't even get a penny for your thoughts.

But if you come to the Somerville post office in Somerset County, New Jersey, you can park at a meter and get 12 minutes for one penny.

Mayor Brian Gallagher loves it.

"It's a little bit of Americana. It's a little bit of nostalgia and, you know, it goes back to I think a little bit simpler time -- a nicer time," Gallagher told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell.

People parking at these meters agree.

"If you like nostalgia, this is the best place to be," said one man.

"It's a small town. It's quaint," said another.

Not surprisingly, these meters cost more to maintain than they actually bring in.

But Gallagher says he'd like to leave them there for old time's sake and let people park for free.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.