I suspect that some paid places use automated license plate readers to check for non-payment, or could be checking manually but having all the cars front-in could still save the manual checker the labor of walking around cars.
edit: In recent years I’ve actually been in parking garages and seen seen a hapless security guard walking car to car, photographing the back of each one. (I’ve also seen ‘meter-readers’ doing the same thing in paid street parking areas.) I wouldn’t be surprised if a car-mounted version also existed, which is what I meant when I speculated about automation.
I think this is it. I’ve only ever seen those signs in parking garages. Not all states require front plates, so I think they want to be able to easily see the back of everyone’s car.
I suspect that some paid places use automated license plate readers to check for non-payment, or could be checking manually but having all the cars front-in could still save the manual checker the labor of walking around cars.
edit: In recent years I’ve actually been in parking garages and seen seen a hapless security guard walking car to car, photographing the back of each one. (I’ve also seen ‘meter-readers’ doing the same thing in paid street parking areas.) I wouldn’t be surprised if a car-mounted version also existed, which is what I meant when I speculated about automation.
I think this is it. I’ve only ever seen those signs in parking garages. Not all states require front plates, so I think they want to be able to easily see the back of everyone’s car.