SmartCard Parking Program

The SmartCard Parking Program is a new and innovative payment alternative for parking meters in the downtown area. This program aids in making on-street parking more accessible for the citizens of Charleston. Through both eliminating the need to carry coins to pay parking meters and allowing patrons to refund unused time from their meters, this program makes parking downtown both more economical and convenient.
In order to take advantage of these benefits, patrons must purchase a SmartCard from the Department of Revenue Collections located at 180 Lockwood Drive. This card is similar in appearance and functions typical to a merchant gift card, and will serve as an alternate form of payment for Charleston’s parking meters. Patrons must pay a one-time charge of $5.00 for the card and may choose from a selection of 4 cards, each bearing a photograph of a different notable Charleston feature. After obtaining a card, patrons may purchase and charge meter time onto the card. Meter time will be sold at the standard rate of 80 minutes per dollar and may be purchased in increments of $1.00 using cash, Visa, MasterCard, or debit cards. SmartCards can hold up to $300 in value and are rechargeable.
SmartCards are designed and programmed to function only in the City of Charleston parking meters which have been updated with a card reader. At this time slightly more than 50% of Charleston’s meters can accommodate the SmartCards. This initial updating of meters has been focused on the main areas of business and commerce, with more updates occurring in 2009. Updated meters still accept coins; however they also possess a slot into which the SmartCard may be inserted. When a SmartCard is inserted, the meter will first display the dollar value available on the card. The display will then begin to show time being added to the meter in 20 minute increments. Time will continue to add to the meter until the maximum allotted time for the meter is reached, or until the card is removed. When ready to leave a metered space, any remaining time may be refunded to the SmartCard simply by reinserting the card into the meter. Each card has a unique electronic identity, thus time may only be refunded onto the specific SmartCard from which it was originally taken.
While SmartCard users will enjoy increased convenience and the ability to refund unused time, the SmartCard does not carry any additional benefits such as guaranteed parking or permission to park at a meter beyond the maximum time allotted. SmartCards are very durable and can withstand considerable heat, cold, and moisture. They are unaffected by magnetic or x-ray exposure.
The City of Charleston is pleased to announce the implementation of the SmartCard Parking Program. Hopefully citizens and tourists alike will enjoy the benefits of the prepaid parking card system. Patrons will no longer be left searching for the heavy and often elusive coins needed to pay parking meters, and will instead simply pull out their SmartCards for a virtually endless supply of convenient and economical parking funds.

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