<P> for repair . These credit card machines accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, and can vary at different locations . DDOT (the District of Columbia Department of Transportation) states that this new parking meter will provide: "better return on tax payer's investment, a variety of options, reduced maintenance, a variety of easy payment options, and increased reliability". </P> <P> New digital meters now account for all of New York City's 62,000 single - space parking meters, which are more accurate and more difficult to break into . New York City retired its last spring - loaded, single - space, mechanical parking meter--which was located at West 10th Street and Surf Avenue in Coney Island--on December 20, 2006 . "The world changes . Just as the (subway) token went, now the manual meter has gone," said Iris Weinshall, the city's transportation commissioner, at a small ceremony marking the occasion, the New York Times reported . </P> <P> Parking meters are exposed to the elements and to vandals so protection of the device and its cash contents is a priority . The meters are frequently targeted in areas where parking regulations and enforcement are widely perceived to be unfair and predatory . </P> <P> Some cities have learned the hard way that these machines must be upgraded regularly, essentially playing an arms race with vandals . In Berkeley, California, the cut - off remains of meter poles were a common sight during the late 1990s, and parking was largely free throughout the city until the city government installed digital parking meters with heavier poles in 2000 (which were eventually vandalized as well). </P>

Where do the coins in a parking meter go