> The parking-lot attendant, he said, “let me off with a warning that I wouldn’t be so lucky next time.”

So... for some old timer who pulls up without a smartphone they'll turn them away? Sounds like an empty threat to me.

Edit:

Should have read more before commenting, later in the article:

> customers “also have the option of entering their license plate number into one of four kiosks as a means of validating their parking.”

So it's just a difference of convenience, much ado about nothing.