Following our article last week on the explosion of
mobile technology and applications designed to assist with finding parking spaces
(see ‘Parking mobile technology takes off’ here), we came across yet another
development in the USA.
mobile technology and applications designed to assist with finding parking spaces
(see ‘Parking mobile technology takes off’ here), we came across yet another
development in the USA.
We find this one particularly interesting, as it
uses information (freely released by Baltimore City officials on the internet)
to calculate the odds of receiving a ticket, based on historical data.
uses information (freely released by Baltimore City officials on the internet)
to calculate the odds of receiving a ticket, based on historical data.
The web application, called SpotAgent, allows a user to type in an
address and then learn the probability of getting a ticket there, including information
on the worst day of the week to park on any given block, as well as the cost of
the average fine for parking violations and from red-light and speed cameras.
address and then learn the probability of getting a ticket there, including information
on the worst day of the week to park on any given block, as well as the cost of
the average fine for parking violations and from red-light and speed cameras.
The app provides a ‘threat rating’, based on the
history of fines and calculating the likelihood of getting a ticket.
history of fines and calculating the likelihood of getting a ticket.
Where is this all going you may very well ask? A local
council advertising its own inefficiencies? A ploy to lure customers into a
false sense of security in order to multiply the number of victims to catch
unawares? The Pedestrian Council of Austalia’s chairman recently raised the
possibility of setting up an independent government enquiry to investigate
whether parking rangers use infringements to help improve road safety or simply
raise revenue…. Is anything in life that simple or black and white?
council advertising its own inefficiencies? A ploy to lure customers into a
false sense of security in order to multiply the number of victims to catch
unawares? The Pedestrian Council of Austalia’s chairman recently raised the
possibility of setting up an independent government enquiry to investigate
whether parking rangers use infringements to help improve road safety or simply
raise revenue…. Is anything in life that simple or black and white?