(Staff photo)
Saint Johners can now purchase and renew residential parking permit passes through the HotSpot Parking website and mobile app.
Parking enforcement will also no longer require residents to hang tags indicating their car’s permit status starting May 1, and bylaw enforcement officers will instead scan license plates to ensure cars are parked legally.
Cody McArthur, HotSpot’s V.P. of Client Success, says they’re working with the city so residents can avoid unnecessary trips to the city’s offices to renew or purchase permits.
“Instead of a person having to go in and fill out a form, write down all their information and then get a physical hang tag, they can now do it right off the HotSpot website,” McArthur said.
He says the application process turnaround can take up to 48 hours, so anyone whose permit will expire shortly should make sure to apply as soon as possible.
Since many residents may not have a smart phone or internet access, McArthur says in-person customer service will still be available through the city.
“Due to COVID-19 and things like that, the city wanted to provide a contactless solution,” he said. “Avoid trying to tell people to come in on the first of the month to pick up their permits.”
McArthur says this is sort of a ‘phase two’ of HotSpot’s collaboration with the city, as they have been in the process of digitizing a number of other permitting processes over the past several months.
The city did not respond to multiple requests for comment from our newsroom.
