SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) - The City of Sacramento has gone live with a pay-by-phone service at more downtown parking lots, which will make paying for parking even easier for customers on the go.

The service is now available at Lot D (12th & I St.), Lot X (2nd & N St.), Garcia Bend, and Miller Park parking lots operated by the City of Sacramento.

The new service enables customers who are parking to simply take note of their space number and use their cell phone to pay for parking within a few minutes of parking. Customers can still use the Pay and Display Stations at the lots, which also accept credit cards, if they prefer not to pay by phone.

This same service was launched last summer at both the parking lot in front of the Sacramento Valley Station at 5th and I streets (lot 293) and the jury/courthouse parking lot, 7th and G streets, (lot 297). The City is exploring the feasibility of adding the service to some long-term parking meters as well.

After a one-time account set-up, the system securely stores credit card information and automatically retrieves it during a transaction. To access the system, call 916-SAC-PARK (722-7275), or visit the Verrus website at www.paybyphone.com. The system will also send customers a text message well in advance of the time expiring, so the customer has an opportunity to purchase another block of time remotely. The service provider, Verrus, is charging users 35 cents per transaction.

More information including Frequently Asked Questions is available at www.sacpark.org.

Source: City of Sacramento