SENSORS timing how long your vehicle has been parked in Albury streets will operate from Thursday June 17.
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Albury Business Connect chairman and Dean Street retailer Barry Young hopes the move will result in greater turnover of parking bays.
"I think people will take less risk around staying in a car park for too long if they know sensors are going," Mr Young said.
"The only thing is we hope there is some leniency in the short term and a grace period in relation to penalties."
Initially, 172 parks across Dean, Olive and Kiewa streets will subject to the first stage of a two-year trial of the technology.
The sensors will monitor the duration of a vehicle's stay, with that data relayed to an Albury Council ranger.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said the equipment would allow other work to be done by those who previously focussed on car parks.
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"This technology eliminates the need for rangers to physically monitor those parking bays in the test site, meaning they'll have more time to serve the community in other ways, such as reuniting lost pets with their owners," Cr Mack said.
"It will also help Council to make long term infrastructure improvements by providing solid data about parking practices in the city centre."
Mr Young said he hoped the sensors may encourage consumers to seek out parks extending longer than an hour, knowing their time was being strictly monitored.
"If you have a one-hour park in Dean Street and you spend 40 minutes at the Telstra shop it doesn't leave much time to do shopping," he said.
