Tonight, October 12, 2024 the City of Knoxville Council is expected to Vote on Mayor Indya Kincannon’s administrations a cash less parking system for all City owned parking.
I remembered the Tennessee legislature dealing with some of this (I thought in 2024, but it was actually in 2023) I hope Knoxville is aware.
If an entity requires on-site payment from a consumer for the services that the consumer provides, and the entity only accepts payment by use of a quick response (QR) code or a credit or debit card machine, then, in the event the QR code or the credit or debit card machine fails to operate correctly to process the transaction, this bill requires the entity to do the following:
(1) Accept payment from the consumer by cash, by check, or through a system that allows the consumer to provide the consumer’s credit or debit card information over the phone; or allow the consumer to leave the property without providing payment at the time; and
(2) Provide notice of the alternative forms of payment accepted on a prominent sign located on the entity’s property where payment is taken.
This bill authorizes an entity to provide information to a consumer enabling the consumer to mail payment to the entity, or provide the consumer’s credit or debit card information over the phone for payment of the services at a later date. However, if the entity does not provide this information, then the consumer is not required to provide payment at a later date for the service.
This bill does not apply to a business or individual that sells a good or other merchandise that can be returned by the consumer.
ON FEBRUARY 27, 2023, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1306, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes to this bill:
(1) Deletes the definition of “entity”;
(2) Revises the definition of “on-site” to mean on the entity’s property where the parking services are provided; and
(3) Clarifies that the entity must accept alternative methods of payment, if the entity only accepts payment by QR code or a credit or debit card machine and those fail to operate correctly, from a consumer for the specific service of parking a motor vehicle on the entity’s property, instead of more broadly for services that the entity provides.
ON APRIL 3, 2023, THE SENATE SUBSTITUTED HOUSE BILL 1306 FOR SENATE BILL 661, ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1, AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 1306, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 limits application of the requirement that an entity provide notice of alternative forms of payment accepted on a prominent sign located on the entity’s property where payment is taken to parking lots that are temporarily or continuously unattended.
