UPDATE: Camden offers $5,000 for information related to vandalism of new parking kiosks defaced overnight with plastic foam, pink spray paint
The newly installed paid parking kiosks in downtown Camden were defaced sometime during the night and early morning of Sept. 7-8. Police are investigating. "It is a weak attempt of a person trying to 'protest' or complain of the audacity of a town's authority to charge money for convenient parking spots," said resident Peter Lindquist, who took photos of two of the kiosks. "A first world problem.... Welcome to Camden." (Photo courtesy Peter Lindquist)
Vandals targeted Camden's new paid parking kiosks Sept. 7-8. (Photo courtesy Peter Lindquist)
The paid parking system in downtown Camden is due to roll out this month. (Image courtesy Town of Camden)
The newly installed paid parking kiosks in downtown Camden were defaced sometime during the night and early morning of Sept. 7-8. Police are investigating. "It is a weak attempt of a person trying to 'protest' or complain of the audacity of a town's authority to charge money for convenient parking spots," said resident Peter Lindquist, who took photos of two of the kiosks. "A first world problem.... Welcome to Camden." (Photo courtesy Peter Lindquist)
Vandals targeted Camden's new paid parking kiosks Sept. 7-8. (Photo courtesy Peter Lindquist)
The paid parking system in downtown Camden is due to roll out this month. (Image courtesy Town of Camden)
UPDATE: Camden is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the identification and apprehension of those responsible for the vandalism of 30 new parking kiosks that were installed in public areas along streets and in parking lots Friday, Sept. 5.
Beginning around 3 a.m. Sept. 8, an individual was observed on camera recordings vandalizing 25 of the machines with pink spray paint and insulation spray foam.
Cameras placed on business buildings picked up images as the vandal moved around town on foot, and at one point, riding a white bicycle, according to a news release from the Town of Camden.
Contact Camden Police Detective Sgt. Aaron Bailey with information about the destruction of public property by calling 207-236-7953 ext. 113 or by email at abailey@camdenmaine.gov.
CAMDEN — Pink spray-painted hearts on the newly installed parking meters in downtown Camden were hard to miss Monday morning, as the sun rose and law enforcement deployed to see if all the meters had been similarly vandalized.
They had, 25 out of 30. The cost of each of the kiosks is approximately $7,000. The kiosks were not insured, yet.
The kiosks were further vandalized with spray insulation foam apparently injected into the slots where credit and other payment cards could be inserted.
"A technician arrived last night to calibrate and complete set-up today [Sept. 8], but he is now working on testing each machine as the spray foam is being removed to see how many can still accept cards," said Camden's Communications and Outreach Coordinator Holly Anderson. "Tap-to-pay still works and people can Text-To-Pay, as well."
The meters, known as Flowbird kiosks, had been installed last Friday in anticipation of the new paid parking system that was to be implemented. The pay-to-park in certain downtown areas was approved in October 2024 by the Camden Select Board.
An investigation is currently underway by the Camden Police Dept., and businesses are helping out by checking any camera history that may have recorded the crime.
The new paid parking system is to be implemented by September 15, and effective through October 15, when Camden paid parking is discontinued for the winter/early spring season.
Parking spaces that have been marked with green lines are to be those for which payment is required.
The new payment system will also use the mobile app Text-To-Pay.
Camden has a dedicated webpage for its parking guidelines. It says:
"In addition to the spaces marked with green lines, the town has marked the free parking spaces that are monitored for two-hour limits in blue. Where applicable, white lines have been added to help drivers find on-street parking that is available for free and with no time limits. The map below shows where free and paid parking will be located, as well as kiosk locations.
"Residents and property owners who register a vehicle(s) in Camden are eligible for a Resident Permit, which provides two hours of free parking daily. Permit holders will start their two-hour session at a kiosk or via text, and can park in any green space during that two hours. Details on how to register for a Resident Permit will be posted soon."
With the implementation of the new pay-to-park program, Camden anticipates netting $640,000 in revenue a year to help ease the burden on property taxpayers, the town said.
