A DRIVER has blasted QR code parking meters after she was mistakenly slapped with a ticket.
A Central Florida woman left her SUV near a Volusia County beach but accidentally paid for a parking spot 1,000 miles away.
Driver was slapped with a parking fine over an autocorrect mistake[/caption]
Patricia Dennis received a parking citation despite paying $20 for parking at Toronita Avenue Beach Park in Wilbur-By-The-Sea.
NEW PARKING SYSTEM
In January, Volusia Country has introduced a new online payment system that uses license plate readers to collect a $30 tax for driving on the beach and a $20 fee for parking at off-beach lots.
Visitors must scan a QR code on signs to access a payment website where they must submit their credit card details and number plate in order to park at off-beach lots.
Beachgoers can easily access the payment website by texting 87517 and entering a three-letter code specific to each parking lot.
But Dennis’ phone’s autocorrect feature messed up her payment as it spelt FWW as FEW when she tried to input the code.
Dennis was sent a link to a website that looked similar to the one used in Volucia County but instead it was located in Detroit.
The website that showed up on Dennis’s phone had the address “2800 Woodward” and a tiny emblem for Smart Park, a Detroit parking provider.
Dennis paid $20.40 to Smart Park but since it was for the wrong location, she was automatically issued a parking citation.
Dennis told News 6: “I never saw anything on my phone that mentioned it was for Detroit.
“We’ve got all our stuff in our arms. We’re ready to go down to the water.”
Dennis tried to contest her parking ticket by submitting an online appeal through the Park Volusia website, but it was turned down.
Still oblivious to the mistake brought on by her phone’s autocorrect, Dennis sent a cheque for $120 to Volusia County to pay for her late fines and parking penalties.
It wasn’t until she contacted the news station that the driver realised she wasn’t the only one with the issue.
COUNTY CHANGED THE CODE
A county spokeswoman admitted that Dennis received an inaccurate payment link, most likely as a result of an autocorrect issue.
Dennis’s citation was promptly dismissed by the county, which also gave her cheque back.
County officials also changed the code of Toronita Avenue Beach Park to FW1 in order to avoid future autocorrect problems.
In order to notify beachgoers of the change, new stickers have been applied on signage located throughout the parking lot.
The Toronita Avenue lot is the only one with a “consistent” autocorrect problem, according to Volusia County staff.
However, it hasn’t been confirmed how many additional parking citations might have been cancelled because of an incorrect code.
Michael Ryan, Volusia County’s director of community information said: “It’s worth noting that this is new technology and the community is still learning.
“We’re aware of those challenges and remain very accommodating and lenient when concerns arise that can be vetted and substantiated.”
Florida’s HOA enforcement
Here is more information on House Bill 1203, Florida’s new HOA regulation:
Florida put a series of guard rails around HOA fine enforcement.
Here is a list of changes homeowners will see by July 1:
- HOAs can no longer restrict parking personal vehicles if they follow state regulations
- Associations must give proper warnings for infractions like garbage bin removal and holiday light displays
- HOAs must keep official records of meetings
- Officials in top HOA positions are subject to criminal prosecution if they accept bribes
- Associations with more than 100 units must publish public information on its website
The law will be most impactful for pickup drivers and emergency vehicle operators.
HOAs will not be allowed to assign fines for pickup drivers who park their vehicles in the driveway.
The law also restricts associations from fining homeowners for emergency vehicle parking.
