Parking downtown Vernon just got a bit easier

VERNON – Remember last month when we warned you to check your change, lest it be swallowed up by the parking meter? Turns out, you don’t have to grab a magnifying glass to make sure your coins are an acceptable mint anymore.

As of March 1, Vernon’s parking meters officially began accepting coins from any year, including those issued after April of 2012. It brings an end to the problem of people popping coins into the machine only to realize the money doesn’t register. While the meters didn’t acknowledge newer coins, they still kept the money, which led to some frustrating moments for people trying to park downtown.

Due to some misunderstanding at a Feb. 25 meeting at City Hall, council thought the meters wouldn’t be replaced for some time, years even, prompting them to pass a motion for warning decals to be attached to 700 machines at a cost of $4,300.

Fortunately, council doesn’t need the decals after all, because the old meters were replaced the first week of March, as planned. The City’s chief administrative officer caught the mistake and notified council with the good news on Monday. 

Clint Kanester, the city's bylaw manager, says it's still a good idea to read information on the meter to make sure you know what coins to use and what they are purchasing so you don't get yourself in a ticketing situation. Five and ten cent coins, and foreign coins, are not accepted in the meter. 

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230.

—This story was edited Mar. 14 at 3:30 p.m. to say that five and ten cent coins, and foreign coins, are not accepted in the meter.