There’s a new automatic parking system at Fresno airport. Is your data protected?
A new system at Fresno Yosemite International airport automatically reads license plates and charges users, saving time.
FYI officials tout the new system as seamless, no longer having to pull tickets when entering or waiting to pay while exiting the parking lot. Cameras will read a vehicle’s license plate and start the timer. Using the company’s app — requiring entering a phone number, license plate and payment method — drivers will be charged automatically upon leaving. Drivers using the app can also reserve spaces.
Gone are ticket kiosks. While gates will still go up and down to let traffic in and out, the new system should operate smoother and quicker.
“What used to take a minute or two to pay at the exit every time you came through, will now save customers more than 80% of their time on average. We’re really bringing more simplicity, convenience, and speed,” said Rob Mitchell, vice president of Santa Monica-based Metropolis Technologies, Inc.
Metropolis bills itself as an artificial intelligence company. The agreement with the city extends an existing contract with Metropolis’ predecessor through 2034.
Metropolis says it now operates more than 4,000 parking lots nationwide, including operations at 75 airports. The company has faced scrutiny over protecting privacy, while fending off lawsuits over enforcement practices, including a $9 million settlement earlier this year with the state of Tennessee.
How it works
Mitchell said the cameras use computer vision and machine learning to analyze video from cameras posted at the entrance and exit. The data collected is more than just the license plate.
“Really, it’s just looking at the visually observable exterior attributes of the rear of the vehicle: the color, make, model. Is there a dent on the left side? A small scratch on the right side? And the license plate,” Mitchell said.
New airport director Mark Thorpe echoed the ease of the new system.
“Anything we can do as an airport to remove some of those concerns that people always have when they get to the airport, that’s a positive thing,” Thorpe said.
Registering with Metropolis through its app is not required. Customers can still pay with cash or a credit card using a dedicated lane upon exit. If no payment information is stored, the gate will not raise automatically until the customer pays on a screen at the exit location, or with a human attendant on site.
What about your data?
Could data collected by the city and Metropolis be used for more than just parking payments?
“We operate on the principle of data minimization. We collect the data that’s necessary to seamlessly process payment,” Mitchell said. That includes license plate information, payment information and a phone number.
Mitchell said information is stored in the U.S. and only authorized Metropolis employees have access. The parking contract also allows the city to access data, mostly for financial purposes. Metropolis owns the data, the contract says.
“We neither sell nor share data with anybody. So folks can rest assured privacy is of a paramount concern for us. As you know, we understand it’s something that’s top of mind for many folks,” Mitchell said.
Metropolis’ privacy policy, posted online at other airports it operates, says the company “may” collect data such as biometric information, internet browsing and search history, and precise geolocation.
The company says it may use personal information to train AI systems, in marketing and advertising, and discloses the information to Metropolis’ business customers, corporate affiliates and third-party advertising partners.
“These advertising partners may use this information (and similar information collected from other services) for purposes of delivering personalized advertisements to you when you visit digital properties within their networks. This practice is commonly referred to as 'interest-based advertising' or ‘targeted advertising,’” the Metropolis privacy policy says.
Mitchell said “that is not true” when asked about that section of the policy. He also denied Metropolis collects biometric data or internet browsing history.
Metropolis spokesperson Nick Rosen-Wachs added, “Just like any growing company, our terms of service and privacy policy are broad. We do not sell data and never have.”
Digital civil liberties group Electronic Frontier Foundation said private companies using automatic license plate reading technology is becoming more common. California law prevents public agencies from sharing license plate data with entities outside the state, and restricts its usage.
“This trumps any ambiguity in Metropolis’ general privacy policy, which seems to allow for broader sharing,” said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Saira Hussain. “While ALPR information likely will be collected about anyone who parks in these parking garages, consumers can minimize the amount of information collected on them by choosing to continue using the old-fashioned method of ticketed parking.”
Thorpe agrees.
“For those that have deep concerns, they can still use the analog lines,” Thorpe said.
The rates remain unchanged. The city charges $4 an hour (with a five-minute grace period), with a $17 flat rate. The economy lot offers a $12 daily rate only.
Several class action lawsuits
Earlier this year, Metropolis entered a $9 million settlement with the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office for deceptive practices.
“It was an isolated incident that occurred at a company that Metropolis acquired years ago. We have put that issue to rest with that settlement, and really, what we’re doing is looking forward is trying to bring best-in-class technology and operations to provide great experiences for customers, and to run parking facilities efficiently for whether it’s an airport or whether it’s a commercial location,” Mitchell said.
Metropolis is defending several federal class action lawsuits, claiming among other things, that the company breaks the law when charging fines.
A lawsuit filed in Texas — Frankfort v. Metropolis Technologies, Inc. — accuses Metropolis of violating federal and Texas state law by failing to post rates, and excessive fines for not paying. The litigation claims Metropolis’ notice of fines purposely intimidates customers by making threats it cannot legally carry out — such as booting or towing vehicles.
“Metropolis doesn’t have the best reputation, and I don’t know why a legitimate business would have Metropolis running their parking,” said Craig Haynes, an attorney in the Texas case.
A judge dismissed the federal claims regarding violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in the Texas case. Attorneys for the plaintiffs are appealing.
A separate federal lawsuit in Tennessee — Alhindi v. Metropolis Technologies, Inc. — makes similar claims. It also alleges Metropolis illegally accesses DMV records to mail violations to the owner of the car. A federal lawsuit in Florida — Barbieri v. Metropolis Technologies, Inc. — alleges illegal access to state driving records to send a notice of violation.
The Tennessee and Florida cases invoke violations of the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994.
New company, new contract
Previously, the airport partnered with SP Plus, which operated a traditional ticket/kiosk model. Metropolis completed its $1.8 billion purchase of SP Plus in May. SP Plus managed the Fresno airport parking since 2014, while the city used the technology of another company, SKIDATA. The technology was “approaching its end of life,” according to a city document.
An earlier attempt to install SKIDATA’s license plate reader system failed; “due to project delays and unforeseen costs, Airports did not proceed with the LPR (license plate reader) project.” The city also had a maintenance package with SKIDATA.
The city will pay Metropolis a yearly $191,850 fee for operations and software, with an annual 3% increase. That will save $156,000 yearly in SKIDATA hardware and software maintenance fees, according to the contract. However, customers will face new charges. The city also purchased eight digital display boards at the exit locations for $80,000 total.
Metropolis will charge users a “consumer transaction fee” on top of the hourly parking rate. There is no fee for the first hour; 1-4 hours, $1.80; more than four hours, $2.80. Reservations will cost an extra $3.80.
The Fresno City Council approved the Metropolis contract unanimously, 7-0, at the June 4 meeting.
