Big Apple Looks At Apple Pay For Parking Tickets

New York City’s finance department is looking for better ways for residents to pay the up to 10 million parking tickets issued there every year — and that may include Apple Pay, PayPal and Bitcoin, according to MarketWatch.

The city is considering smartphone-based options that include an “aesthetically pleasing” mobile interface that lets users take a picture of their ticket or scan the ticket’s barcode to see ticket details, then initiate payment through a one-click system on their smartphone. The hope is that offering mobile options might help cut down on the late-payment fines racked up each year from base fines and penalties on unpaid violations (late fees start 30 days after the ticket is issued).

The city collects $600 million a year from parking tickets.

While the finance department is currently kicking around possibilities that include Apple Pay, PayPal and Bitcoin, it’s very early in the process: So far the city has only issued a Request for Information to assist its “understanding [of] the current market environment for mobile payment options.” Potential mobile payments vendors have until Jan. 15 to respond, and what they come back with will largely shape any new system.

Drivers can currently pay for tickets by mail, in person at the courthouse, or online. But the online system is not mobile friendly, and credit and debit card payments are subject to a 2.5 percent convenience fee.