FUTIAN District People’s Court seized 43,519 parking meter cards from three warehouses operated by Shenzhen Kaoshuta Parking Management Co., a major step forward in resolving the longstanding issue of mishandled roadside parking fees. The court also seized related parking meter accounting data.

    Shenzhen installed parking meters in 1997, pursuant a contract with Kaoshuta. But the city soon encountered problems, such as a lack of enforcement and substandard operations by Kaoshuta. The parking meter service ceased upon expiration of the contract in 2007. However, an estimated 19 million yuan (US$3 million) was unused and remained on users’ Kaoshuta cards.

    Shenzhen’s finance commission sued to force Kaoshuta to return the government’s investment, remove the remaining parking meters, provide an accurate accounting and settle the unused sums remaining on users’ cards. The court subsequently found in favor of the finance department’s demands and sealed three of the company’s warehouses.

    The company requested a negotiation with the finance commission and the court suspended its action upon acquiesce by the commission. But the two sides failed to reach agreement on key issues and with successive actions March 18 and March 21 the Futian court ordered the shutdown of Kaoshuta’s three warehouses. It was also ordered that the parking cards and parking meter data be impounded.

    Earlier this month Shenzhen’s transportation commission stated that the remaining balance on old parking meter cards can be used to pay for roadside parking fees pending implementation in July.

    According to the commission, it is working with related government departments to establish guidelines for the use of the unused sums remaining on users’ Kaoshuta cards. A detailed plan is expected to soon be released.

    Integral to the commission’s new roadside parking fee program, radio frequency-based ID technology will trigger the collection of fees. Parking meters will not be a part of the plan.

    Soon drivers may also pay roadside parking fees using mobile phone apps.

    (Han Ximin)