PARKING METERS TURN 65 (JUL. 16)

PARKING METERS TURN 65 (JUL. 16)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Wireless Flash) -- Sunday will be a fine anniversary for America's meter maids: It marks the 65th anniversary of the day the very first parking meter was installed. On July 16, 1935, Oklahoma City installed the world's first parking meter. A spokesman for the Oklahoma Historical Society says, at the time, the city suffered from horrible parking problems and officials figured charging five cents an hour to park would cut down on the number of cars. Although residents weren't too thrilled, the meters quickly caught on and there are now about five million parking meters in the U.S., each holding up to $60 in coins. The Oklahoma Historical Society owns the very first parking meter, but has no plans to celebrate the meter's 65th birthday.