Hardware

Idaho town's parking program off to a rocky start

Kirk Fisher - stock.adobe.com

July 6, 2026

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The city of Sandpoint, Idaho, launched its long-debated paid parking program July 1, according to a Sandpoint Reader report, introducing 43 cashless parking kiosks throughout the downtown core.

The rollout was marred by a software glitch that caused the kiosks to default to full-day parking instead of the intended two hours of free parking, confusing users on the program's first day. City officials said technicians were manually correcting the issue and planned to have all kiosks functioning properly by that afternoon. Parking enforcement will be limited to warnings during the first two weeks as drivers adjust to the new system.

The program requires motorists parking in designated two-hour downtown zones to enter their license plate number at a kiosk or through the ParkSmarter mobile app. Parking remains free for the first two hours, after which drivers pay $4 per hour. City officials said the system is intended to improve turnover in high-demand parking spaces and increase access for downtown customers.

The rollout prompted criticism from residents and downtown workers, with about 20 people gathering for a protest on opening day. Opponents cited concerns over the kiosks, privacy, communication and the overall structure of the program, while one resident launched a petition and fundraising campaign seeking the recall of city officials who supported the plan. City leaders said the parking strategy was developed over more than 18 months through public meetings and studies, emphasizing that the goal is to improve parking availability for businesses rather than generate revenue from local residents.