ABSTRACT
Cities increase political support for parking meters by using the meter revenue to improve local public services. Most people view parking meters as a necessary evil, or perhaps just evil. Meters can manage curb parking efficiently and provide public revenue, but they are a tough sell to voters. To change the politics of parking, cities can give price discounts at parking meters for their own residents. Like hotel taxes, parking meters with resident discounts can generate substantial local revenue without unduly burdening local voters. Resident parking discounts are justified because residents already pay taxes to maintain the streets and municipal garages in their city. Parking meters with resident discounts come close to the ideal way to raise public revenue: Monty Python's proposal to tax foreigners living abroad. Cities with serious air pollution can also give parking discounts for cars with low hydrocarbon or nitrogen oxide emissions.
