RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Local governments will find it easier and more efficient to collect parking meter fees, owing to a bill signed into law by Gov. Pat McCrory.

Senate Bill 52, signed this week, allows all cities and towns to Under current law, only a few cities and towns, including Wilmington, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, are authorized to use modern payment methods to activate parking meters.

This bill authorizes all cities to allow activation of parking meters by coins, tokens, cash, credit cards, debit cards, or other electronic means.

Previously, only several cities were authorized, including Raleigh and Wilmington.

Cities and towns are creations of state government, which means they require clearance from the state before they can undertake certain activities.