Since motorcycles and scooters lack a dashboard, the Pay Box receipt is displayed on the front head lamp by ordinance. Motorcycle and scooter owners should write their license plate number on the receipt to discourage theft. The receipt is only valid if displayed on the motorcycle or scooter bearing that license plate number.

CPM is working closely with ABATE, the largest motorcycle lobby in Illinois to create a solution. Previously, the City used the traditional adhesive receipts in about 200 pay boxes, yet CPM and ABATE felt the traditional adhesive receipts were cumbersome. 

With the installation of nearly 3,700 Pay Boxes, CPM and ABATE decided to look at other solutions, including the redesign of the receipt. 

Presently, Chicago Parking Meters (CPM) is testing three different types of Pay Box receipts:

• Traditional adhesive receipts: These remain in about 50 Pay Boxes across the City.
• Paper receipts applied with adhesive strips: The adhesive strips are available in covered pouches on the side of most Pay Boxes and are stocked on a regular basis.
• New adhesive receipts: The new adhesive receipt has a number of benefits over the old. The biggest being it is easier to use (it works like a sticker) and utilizes less adhesive. That’s good for motorcycle headlamps as the receipt will leave behind less adhesive residue. These new receipts are being used at several pay boxes and CPM is working with ABATE to determine additional locations.

The new adhesive receipts appear to provide the best solution to date and will be available at all Pay Boxes by March 15, 2010.