Portable time metering device

A portable time metering device particularly adaptable as an in-car parking meter for parking in a plurality of zones comprises a plurality of bank registers, each bank register having stored therein information representing a monetary value and each of the plurality of zones corresponding to one bank register. The device selectively determines whether a sufficient monetary value is stored in a corresponding bank register of a selected zone to allow parking in the zone. The device further determines a total amount of time parked in a selected zone if parking is allowed. The total amount of time is then used to deduct an amount from the monetary value of the corresponding bank. The device also includes a communication component for transmitting and receiving data.