On this day in history, 1935, the very first parking meter was put into service in Oklahoma City. Invented by Carl C. Magee, a muckraking journalist known for his reporting on various political scandals, the parking meter was immediately unpopular (it cost a nickel an hour). But local politicians quickly recognized its potential to raise money for other dumb ideas. Today there are more than 4 million parking meters across the country, and they charge by the minute.
Have a great day.
NCPA
