North Berwick is the first town in the region to have the parking charges introduced, with plans for similar schemes in Musselburgh, Haddington, Dunbar and Tranent expected to follow.
Insp Alan King, of Police Scotland, said the vandalism had caused great expense to the “public purse” while councils were “bearing what are harsh economic times”.
East Lothian Council leader, Councillor Norman Hampshire, said the fees were necessary to regulate parking in a town without attendants.
He said the only way to introduce staff to stop certain drivers parking on double yellow lines, in front of drop kerbs and on pavements was to bring in income to fund them.
He told the BBC those responsible for defacing the machines would have “action taken against them”.
“The council budget can’t afford to employ traffic wardens and the income from the parking charges will allow us to employ them,” Hampshire said.
“If people think by vandalising the machines they will stop the parking charges coming in, we will bring them in. We need to do this.
“North Berwick is a small town, some people will know who is responsible for the vandalism and Police Scotland are confident they’ll be able to apprehend the people responsible.”