The number shown on the parking meter is the identification code for the bay or block face where the equipment is installed. It is used to pinpoint the exact stretch of street, link your payment to the correct location, and allow enforcement to check whether that vehicle has active credit in that position.
What this number identifies
Each parking meter is assigned a fixed code defined by the city in the signage plan for the rotational parking scheme. This number usually represents:
- The block face: the side of a street between two intersections, which may include dozens of bays controlled by the same piece of equipment.
- The installation point: the exact position of the meter on the road, useful for maintenance and auditing.
- The pricing zone: in some cities the code indicates the area and, with it, the rate and the maximum allowed parking time.
Rotational parking is provided for in the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB), Law 9.503/1997, Art. 24, item X [1], which gives the municipal authority the power to set up and operate the system. That is why the format of the number varies from city to city, and there is no single nationwide standard.
What it is for in practice
When you pay at the meter itself, the number appears on the screen only to confirm where you are. But the code plays a central role in app-based payment. In apps such as Digipare, you enter the bay or block-face code to activate credit for exactly that stretch, and not for some other point in the city. This prevents the payment from being recorded in the wrong place.
This same number connects three stages of the system:
| Stage | Role of the number |
|---|---|
| Payment | Links the credit to the correct stretch of road |
| Enforcement | Allows checking whether there is active credit on that block face |
| Proof | Appears on the digital receipt as evidence of the paid location |
Bay number vs. time remaining vs. status
It is common to confuse the numbers shown on the display. It helps to separate them:
- Bay or block-face code: fixed, identifies the location. This is what matters for payment.
- Time remaining: a countdown that decreases as credits are consumed.
- Status or error: short codes indicating equipment out of service, a connection failure, or no change available.
When the meter is faulty, note down the equipment number. It is the reference the city uses to identify the point when logging the issue or enabling payment through another channel.
How to find your bay's code
- Look at the display or the label on the body of the meter.
- Check the signage on the block face, which usually repeats the code.
- In the app, the number can be confirmed by geolocation before activating credit.
Paying with the correct code is what ensures that electronic enforcement, whether by agents or by automatic plate reading, recognizes your vehicle as compliant. An active payment on the wrong stretch is the same as not having paid, and the vehicle becomes subject to an irregular-parking notice.