Drivers Beware! Do not park at the meters around Okinawa!

Drivers, beware! The use of parking meters on Okinawa is starting to be phased out starting this April.

Drivers should not park their vehicles at any parking meter on the island. Breaking the rule will result in a traffic violation, Okinawa Prefectural Police (OPP) said.

You may notice some of the meters have covers marked with “休止中”characters, which mean the meter is not in service and not available for parking. However, whether the meter is marked or not, all of the islands parking meters have now been disabled and parking in these spots is prohibited.

The OPP explained it is currently conducting an impact study on usage rate of parking meters as the number of paid parking lots increases around the island.

Be on the lookout for these out-of-service meters near Kadena Air Base’s Gate 2 so you know where not to park. Pay attention and drive safe!