POM's APM line of electronic parking meters can be programmed to accept a variety* of prepaid chip cards, alone or in conjunction with coins.  The benefits of using prepaid cards in parking meters are:

• Convenience for motorists; no more digging for coins.  A ParkCard fits right into your pocket or wallet, or punch a hole in the corner and put it on your keychain.

• Reduced collection costs due to fewer coins in the meter vaults.

• Reduced vandalism due to fewer coins in the meter vaults.

• Up front revenue from card sales, in the bank earning interest while it may take weeks or months before each card is used up.  Additional revenue is possible by selling advertising on one side of the card. 

• Since each card can include a unique, sequential number, the meter can "identify" the last  user and perform programmed functions, such as disallowing extra payments with the same card past the legal parking time limit, and refunding left-over time back to the card when the motorist returns (Refund-A-Card option).

Refund-a-Card Refund-a-Card is a programming option developed by POM for its closed card systems whereby the electronic APM parking meter "remembers" the last ParkCard used in the meter.  When the motorist returns to find left-over time remaining on their meter, they can reinsert their ParkCard, and the value of that left-over time is refunded to that card to the penny and the meter is reset to zero.  This can make motorists more receptive to paid parking, since traditionally with a coin-only system they would over-pay to avoid a citation and receive no refund.

One might think Refund-a-Card would lower revenue for the city, but the opposite is true.  Refund-a-Card removes the leftover time from the meter, so fewer motorists find meters with time already on them -- everyone has to pay. Traffic congestion is reduced when people cease cruising slowly for parking spaces with time remaining on the meters. Ask your POM Sales Representative for more information on how Refund-A-Card would work in your parking system.

Card Management System

The IntelliCard CTS (Card Transaction System) can be configured to accept banknotes or credit cards, and vend smartcards to be used in the POM electronic parking meters.   To add value to your card, simply reinsert the card, follow the instructions, and pay the CTS machine.  Reprogram the CTS, or download transaction data, via smartcard.
	PC software is available for smartcard management.  This allows the parking system administrator to issue smartcards and add value to depleted cards.   Maintain a database of card buyers.  Transaction reports for financial accountability may be custom-defined to suit your needs.

• CTS allows remote, multiple locations for maximum card availability.
• Desk-top software keeps close, centralized control over card distribution.
• Manage your own closed card system and keep the "float" earning interest in your parking system bank account.

*Atmel Cryptomemory cards (1,000-card min order), Bull Scot5 cards (no longer available), Amazing ACL102 cards (1,000-card min.), Gemplus 103 (call for current min. order requirements). POM can develop for other card styles utilizing T=0 protocol.  For a card system involving multiple participants, make sure all vendors involved are able and willing to develop their equipment to read a common smartcard and provide audit reports to attribute their portion of card revenue to their equipment.