Started from 1 January 2014, Penang Island Municipal Council had implemented Parking Coupon system to replace parking meter and parking attendants system as new payment method for public car parking lot that under their supervision.
As what I could recall, parking attendants system had been implemented in Penang Island since I was a child, probably it is having more than twenty years history. The advantage for this system is the car owner only need to pay the car park fees based on the record by parking attendants. But the disadvantage is the car owner might be overcharged by the dishonest attendants or sometimes there was no receipt being issued by them. Besides, it is also very hard to find some of the attendants and the car owner force to make another visit to the same area in another day, just to pay for the fees.
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| Sample of Official Car Parking Receipt |
Beside the attendant system, Penang Island do have parking meters installed at some areas include Beach Street.
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| Parking Meter |
Frankly speaking, I personally dislike this system due to the meters were not well maintained. I did experienced before where I insert the coins into the meter but there was no response at all. I could not withdraw the coins out yet could not stay at that parking lot, wondering that the enforcer would issue penalty notice due to the meter had no sign where payment being made.
Anyway, with implementation of coupon system, the parking meters and attendants are officially become history. Hence, in case you are getting around in Penang Island using the car, then perhaps you shall look for the banner below where indicated car parking coupon is sold over there.
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| Banner of Car Parking Coupon is Sold |
Currently there are 3 types of parking coupon being sold in the market. The first and common coupon booklet is sold at RM6 where inside contains 5 pcs of half an hour coupon (RM0.40/half hour) and 5 pcs of one hour coupon (RM0.80/hour).
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| Half An Hour Coupon (RM0.40/pc) |
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| An Hour Coupon (RM0.80/pc) |
If your eyesight is sharp, then you would notice that there are printing error on the coupon. The RM0.40 or RM0.80 shall be printed as 40 cent or 80 cent, but NOT 0.40 sen or 0.80 sen.
Besides, the another 2 types of coupon include RM4/booklet where there are 10 pcs of RM0.40/pc half an hour coupon inside; and RM60/booklet where there are 10 pcs of RM6/pc one day coupon within it. But these 2 types coupon are still not common and only available in limited locations.
Unlike Seberang Perai, the chargeable parking period for public parking lots by Penang Island Municipal Council is designed according to the traffic of that areas. If the area is having low traffic, then the chargeable period in Green Signboard is from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday from 9am to 1pm. Sunday and public holiday is free of charge.
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| Green Signboard |
When the traffic is at medium level, then the Blue Signboard is installed to indicate the chargeable period.
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| Blue Signboard |
No standardization on the chargeable period for blue signboard and drivers are required to check it out by themselves. Similar to Blue Signboard, the Red Signboard is installed at area with high traffic. Area with Red Signboard require driver to pay the car park fees everyday includes public holiday. However the chargeable period could be different from area to area.
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| Red Signboard |
In overall, get ready a coupon booklet with you is the safer step if you prefer to drive and park the car in Penang Island. The enforcer is very hard working and efficient, penalty notice could be issued to you shortly if they found out there is no parking coupon display in your car. Don't try to test the efficiency of the enforcer if you do not plan to pay more ya!
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