Boston City Councillor John M. Tobin, Jr. wants drivers in Boston to be able to pay for parking spaces using their cell phones and will file an order this week asking the Boston City Council to hold a public hearing to consider a pilot program.

“Everyone has a cell phone but not everyone has a pocket full of quarters,” said Councillor Tobin, who represents West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain. “This technology would make it easier for drivers to park in the city without having to search for change.”

Councillor Tobin said the technology would allow motorists to send a text message to a designated phone number indicating they are parking their cars in a public spot. When they return to their vehicles they would send a second message indicating they are vacating the parking space, he explained. Parking fees and text message costs would be billed to the customer’s cell phone, Councillor Tobin said, adding, regular meters would still be in effect. The city would collect the fees through contracts with the cell phone companies.

Councillor Tobin said he hopes the city’s Transportation Department will be open to the idea and praised Menino Administration for instituting a pilot program that allows drivers to pay for meters using bank debit cards.

“The City needs to modernize the way it operates,” said Councillor Tobin. “This would give drivers a new option for payment. We need to explore and implement new technology that will make Boston a more attractive place to live and visit.”

The order will be considered by the City Council at its weekly meeting on Wednesday, June 18