City considering parking system that tracks license plates

City stopped charging for
parking at the end of Feb.

La Crosse looks into new ways to make parking less of a hassle.

Wednesday, the city invited residents to a presentation on one system that would still charge drivers to park in ramps but without having to take a ticket and deal with a gate.

“The concept is actually to remove the gates and go with a, what’s called a free-flow system,” T-2 Systems staffer Phil Malensick attempted to explain, “where you enter the area that’s enforced and there’s a pay station – whatever payment method you have.”

What the city is considering is a system that electronically monitors license plates and keeps track of how long they’re in the ramp. The same system could be used for parking on the streets, as well, creating a database of where you’ve parked.

To pay, a driver could do so online or at a pay station. 

The ticket machines used for the last two years in La Crosse’s ramps have been shut down since February, while the city figures out a system that leads to less complaining, and less vandalism.