U.S. Parking MetersIn 1935, the first parking meters were installed in the Oklahoma City business district. Carl C. Magee of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce traffic committee, solved the parking problems in downtown Oklahoma City. Downtown workers were parking on streets, staying all day, and leaving few spaces for shoppers and visitors to the business district. Magee applied for a patent on his parking meter on 13 May 1935 (issued 24 May 1938). His patent application indicates that generating revenue was an important issue from the beginning. It stated that his invention related to "meters for measuring the time of occupancy or use of parking or other space, for the use of which it is desirous an incidental charge be made upon a time basis." |