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Florence Mayor Handy Dandy Andy Betterton says that he's excited for the City to be partnering with ParkMobile. The question may be just how excited should you be that ParkMobile could have a great deal of information about you which it forwards on a regular basis to the City and who knows who else.
The mobile app collects the following:
License plate number
Phone number
E-mail address
Vehicle's nickname (if provided)
Bank card info (allegedly not given out)
Location of meter or lot where parked
Length of time spent in parking place
In other words, whoever at the City of Florence with access to the parking data could possibly see that your daughter "Sissy" parked in front of Trowbridge's at lunch time last week and that you (or someone driving your car labeled as "Self") spent two hours parked in front of On the Rocks last month.
While bank information is encrypted, the company's records were hacked by Russian cybercriminals in 2021. The information was then posted online.
In other words, keep several quarters handy when parking at a Florence meter.
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ReplyDeleteIt is my firm belief that the ParkMobile issue extends far beyond the awareness of many individuals. Given the nature of my profession, which entails extensive travel across various locales domestically and internationally, I find myself equipped with numerous parking applications on my mobile device. Cities such as Buffalo, New York, and Chicago, Illinois, among others, are just a few examples where I utilize these seemingly convenient apps. However, allow me to shed light on a fraction of my encounters with what I consider to be profit-driven, purportedly convenient applications.
Consider my experience with the BuffaloRoam app, for instance. This particular application mandates the presence of a major credit card on file and operates on a system of charging in ten-dollar increments. Consequently, even for a modest parking fee of, say, two dollars, I am charged a flat rate of ten dollars, thereby accruing a balance on my card. Over time, as my balance diminishes, I am compelled to replenish it with another ten-dollar charge, merely to cover the nominal parking fee. Do you detect an inherent flaw in this setup?
Now, envision this scenario replicated across multiple cities that I frequent. It becomes apparent that a substantial amount of funds can become entangled within these parking applications, potentially controlled by disparate entities. Meanwhile, these companies profit from the interest accrued on my funds, while I am left juggling to ensure that each app remains updated with my current credit card information.
You may argue that you personally do not encounter such issues, perhaps infrequently parking in these urban centers. However, consider the broader economic implications: if you patronize businesses whose employees rely on parking in such areas, inevitably, the cost of goods may rise to offset these parking expenses.
Take, for example, the situation in downtown Florence. Although many individuals may not frequent this locale regularly, the chosen vendor for parking services stands to gain significantly by maintaining a hold on funds in their accounts. One cannot help but question the motives behind such partnerships with municipalities. It certainly poses a deterrent to conducting business within Florence's urban core.
This brings me to Sheffield and a missed opportunity. Instead of channeling resources into ventures like Inspiration Landing, the city could redirect its focus towards revitalizing downtown Sheffield to foster business growth. Naturally, this would necessitate a more business-friendly environment.
Alternatively, neighboring municipalities such as Tuscumbia or Muscle Shoals may seize this oversight to their advantage, closely monitoring Florence's actions. It is plausible that Florence's approach may not resonate with everyone, and individuals like myself, burdened with an array of parking apps, will undoubtedly seek alternatives to circumvent what I perceive as a profit-driven scheme.
Despite the purported benefits espoused by Florence's leadership regarding ParkMobile, they have failed to solicit feedback from individuals like myself, who navigate a landscape inundated with parking apps. As such, individuals like myself will adamantly resist what we perceive as an opportunistic money grab.
Furthermore, it's worth noting that in most of the cities I visit, the option to pay with quarters has either been disabled or the meters have fallen into disrepair. This trend typically arises from the cost-saving benefits that the implementation of parking apps offers to the city. Therefore, relying on a bag full of quarters as a means of payment won't spare you from inadvertently contributing to a company's profit through interest accrued on your funds, especially if they're engaged in questionable dealings with municipal authorities.
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