$965 meter, $30 inside
Vandals have wrecked or robbed about 470 downtown Anchorage parking meters since January, costing the city more than $409,000.
Daily Alaska staff · September 29, 2026 · Anchorage
Daily Alaska staff · September 29, 2026 · AnchorageDowntown Anchorage parking meters have been smashed, ripped out or robbed about 470 times since January, according to the city, with total damage topping $409,000. Officials who run downtown parking say no street has been spared, and the parking authority is now talking with Assembly members who represent downtown about changing city code to stop accepting coins at meters.
The damage hits Anchorage's budget directly. Each meter costs $965 to replace, far more than the coins inside it. A fully packed meter holds about $30 in coins, and most hold less, meaning the cost of repair dwarfs whatever cash is taken.
Most drivers already pay by card, app, text or QR code instead of coins, which is why the parking authority sees a coin ban as a practical fix rather than a major change in how people pay. Anchorage's parking code currently requires meters to accept coins, so any change needs Assembly action.
Eugene, Oregon already stopped taking coins at its meters to cut down on break-ins, giving Anchorage officials a model to point to as they start those conversations.
Downtown parking rates run about $1.75 to $2.25 an hour. The parking director says the push to drop coins is less about the lost cash and more about keeping spots turning over at the curb, since every smashed meter is one less spot drivers can pay for and one more repair bill for the city to cover.
Key facts
- Damage to downtown Anchorage parking meters totals at least $409,000 since January
- About 470 meters have been wrecked, ripped out or robbed
- Each meter costs $965 to replace
- A full meter holds roughly $30 in coins, most hold less
- Downtown parking rates run about $1.75 to $2.25 an hour
- Eugene, Oregon already stopped taking coins at its meters
Ongoing: This story is still developing.
In this story
Questions people ask
How much damage have Anchorage parking meters taken?
The city says vandalism and theft have cost more than $409,000 since January, with about 470 meters wrecked, ripped out or robbed. That's a real hit to the city's maintenance budget, not just a few broken machines.
Why would Anchorage stop taking coins at meters?
A full meter holds about $30 in coins but costs $965 to replace, so the parking authority sees coins as a weak point that invites break-ins. Most drivers already pay with card, app, text or QR code anyway.
Who decides if Anchorage meters stop taking coins?
City code currently requires coin acceptance, so the parking authority has to work with Assembly members who represent downtown to change it. No vote has happened yet.
Has another city already dropped coins from meters?
Yes, Eugene, Oregon stopped taking coins at its parking meters to cut down on break-ins, and Anchorage officials are pointing to that example as they start their own conversation.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- Downtown Anchorage parking meter damage totals at least $409,000 since January — adn.com
- About 470 meters have been wrecked, ripped out or robbed — adn.com
- Each meter costs $965 to replace and holds up to about $30 in coins — adn.com
- Eugene, Oregon stopped taking coins at its parking meters to reduce break-ins — adn.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →