App reports bad parking and gets you paid

If you've ever been irked by a bad parking job or seen a vehicle parked where it shouldn't be, there's now an app for that -- and you can receive a bounty to boot.

A Canadian start-up called SpotSquad has developed an app that crowdsources parking enforcement, in a pilot with the Winnipeg city government. The app automates the process of reporting bad parking jobs in private lots by using GPS and character recognition to collect identifying license plate information. Participants receive a portion of the fine paid if a citation is issued to the vehicle's owner.

Fox News reported today that the pilot program would begin in July. None of the evidence submitted by the app will be used in court, the company told Fox.

It could be said that we are now our own "big brother," but no one will have an issue if they follow the parking rules. This program isn't all that surprising -- traffic cameras have been in service for years. It's safe to say that self-appointed citizen parking sleuths won't be nearly as controversial. Nobody likes a bad parker.

Ironically, I just came across news that Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlin was arrested over a parking spat as I was looking for an imagine from a parking-themed episode of that show. Garlin smashed in a car window over a parking space.

Jeff, the Canadians have you covered.

(image credit: YouTube/HBO)

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com