Abstract: A parking system for enabling centralized parking reservation, payment and enforcement, comprises a central computer communicating with user terminals and service terminals over a data network. The parking system maintains maps for all parking facilities administered by the respective owner and maintains information regarding the user of the respective vehicle; this information is particularly useful in security sensitive areas. A subscriber may access the system using a wireless or wireline web-enabled terminal, or with the help of an agent, to identify a convenient, un-reserved parking space, reserve that space (advance reservation is available) and pay a fee corresponding to the time the space was used. For subscriber's convenience, payment is cashless, and is tailored to the subscriber's needs; overtime parking protection is also available. The service terminals enable automation of most parking operations.