New parking payment option released ahead of Spring Break
February 2024, Clearwater, Florida – The City of Clearwater, Florida has released Pay by Text, the latest advancement in the City’s parking convenience options, in partnership with Flowbird, the City’s parking kiosk provider. Pay by Text is an easy to use web-based solution that allows drivers to pay for their parking session directly from their phone without creating an account or downloading an app.
This latest feature adds another convenient way to pay when parking in city-owned parking spaces, lots and garages in Clearwater, alongside the pay-on-foot parking meters and mobile payment apps.
How Pay by Text Works:
1. Park your vehicle
2. Text ‘CLEARWATER’ to 727563
3. Receive a secure link to input your parking details – including license plate number, duration, and payment information
4. Confirm the details to start your parking session
Information is sent to parking enforcement who can verify the vehicle is in compliance. That’s it! There is no need to create an account, download an app, or visit a kiosk.
“We are very excited about the launch of the Pay by Text service – just in time for visitors coming in for Spring Break,” said Clearwater Parking Manager, Jeremy Alleshouse, “This feature gives our residents and visitors even more convenience when they park in our bright and beautiful city.”
The Pay by Text solution is PCI-DSS certified, giving assurance to parkers that their data is protected. Once the parking session is complete, the payment information is encrypted and the card data is not stored. To provide the parker with future convenience, their mobile device can store the card number in an encrypted manner so the number does not have to be re-entered the next time a parking session is performed.
By implementing modernized parking solutions with convenient payment options, the City will be able to better manage parking turnover and visitor influx during peak periods. The City can help motorists stay in compliance with parking enforcement, reducing the number of citations.
Along with pay by text, visitors may still use the parking kiosks to pay for their parking session, as well as the Flowbird mobile app and Parkmobile.
Pay by Text is now live throughout the City of Clearwater.