The free parking at meters in Guadalajara (municipal area) that Tapatios and visitors have enjoyed for the past six months is about to end.
As a flurry of new “digital” meters were being installed this week, Guadalajara city council approved bylaws to resume operation of the parking meter network as of July 16.
The new meters will accept three forms of payment.
1. Drivers can pay in cash for the time they require at an authorized business located in the immediate zone. They may also “top up” their app/phone parking “accounts” at these establishments by providing their license plate number.
2. They can send a text message to 25505 with the zone “clave” (code) and their license plate number. Payment will be deducted from their app/phone accounts. Five minutes prior to expiry, drivers will receive a message asking if they wish to extend their parking time.
3. In addition, they can also pay via the Parkimovil app that can be downloaded on their cellphones. All that is required is to select the parking icon and scan the QR code on the meter. Payment is made automatically by credit or debit card.
The new system also brings new fees: seven pesos for the first hour, eight for the second, and so on for each subsequent hour. Fines will range from 188 to 1,234 pesos.
The network will be operated by a private concessionary: Plastic Omnium Sistemas Urbanos.