Rose Cantine

Just back from San Francisco and opening my post and there’s a letter from the parking police. It’s usually bad news but this one isn’t at all.

The Amsterdam parking police informs me that I will no longer be receiving my annual parking permit in the mail. No more paper permits that you have to stick on your windshield. The parking inspectors can tell from the license plate whether a vehicle has permission to park in a particular neighborhood. Apparently they will be walking around with some device that can automatically scan the license plate numbers and connect directly to the office via a wireless network (probably 3G, since there’s no citywide Wi-Fi here yet).

I am amazed at the trouble that my San Francisco friends have to go through to renew their permits - waiting in line, paying at a physical counter. We have had online payments and direct debits since I can remember (years ago). And we’ve always received our permits in the mail. The disadvantage is that they can get lost. But still better than waiting in line.

Payment for the annual parking fee will continue to take place, as it has, via direct debit from one’s bank account.

Three cheers for the Amsterdam parking office!