Prairie Public Broadcasting

Parking meters in ND? FARGO, ND (Prairie Public) - North Dakota is the only state in the nation to have laws prohibiting the use of parking meters to enforce on-street parking.
Fargo Parking Commission Senior Planner Bob Stein says the law was enacted in the 1940's. But he says the issue should be one for local governments to decide - and not a matter of state regulation.

"Parking meters engender some emotional responses,"' said Stein. "But it is a tried and true way to manage valuable resources. Having a state law saying we can't do it seems to be a bit of overkill.

Stein says while cities are restricted from using parking meters -- the state makes use of meters - including those on the NDSU campus.

They find it's an effective way to manage their valuable parking spaces," said Stein. "The difference being -- the parking meters are not on the street."

Stein says the idea of allowing parking meters has been taken up by the state legislature - but has been met with wide-spread resistance.
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