The IPI 2013 International Parking Conference will be held in Mexico City, October 28-29.  Presented in Spanish with simultaneous English translation, the conference will include educational sessions, roundtable discussions, exhibits, networking, a facilities tour, and more. No matter your specialty, the IPI 2013 International Parking Conference showcases the newest tools, advanced technologies, sustainable solutions, and leading experts in parking and transportation to help you tap into innovations that are revolutionizing parking and contributing to a new vision for smart cities. Click here for more information.

The Durbin amendment (see the June 2012 The Parking Professional) required the Federal Reserve to determine "reasonable and proportional" debit card fees. The statutory language requires the Federal Reserve to look at the comparison between debit transactions and paper checks, which clear at par (face value). The Federal Reserve issued a proposed rule that contemplated a 7 to 12 cent range for the "reasonable and proportional" standard; however, in their final rule they increased that amount to 21 cents + five basis points of the sale.  

On July 31, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of a group of merchants who challenged the Federal Reserve claiming it did not follow the intent of Congress and the Durbin amendment statutory language in its final rulemaking on debit swipe fees. In the opinion, the court says, "the interchange transaction fee and network non-exclusivity regulations are fundamentally deficient. It appears that the Board completely misunderstood the Durbin Amendment's statutory directive and interpreted the law in ways that were clearly foreclosed by Congress." 

There will likely be an appeals process, but we are hopeful that in the long run the Federal Reserve will have to re-issue a final rule that adheres to the law and requires truly reasonable and proportional debit fees on all transactions, especially small ticket. IPI will continue its work with the Merchants Payments Coalition on this issue, and its fight against unfair credit card fees and working toward a more competitive and transparent card systems that works better for consumers and merchants alike. 

Join the Green Parking Council (GPC), an affiliate of IPI, on Tuesday, September 17 at 7 p.m. in New York, N.Y., for the latest Green Parking Council NYC Innovation Salon. This year's salon explores the actual and aspirational sides of sustainability and the green garage.  Presenters will explore the parking garage in the built and natural environment, from parking as placemaking to next-generation public EV charging, to accelerating adoption of high-performance, energy-efficient lighting.

GPC salons continue to foster innovation and celebrate leadership in the ways parking structures and spaces are created, managed, used, and ultimately incorporated into the fabric of city life. For more information and to RSVP, email Betsy Way.