Mayors could set own parking fines

THE MAYORS of towns and villages around France could become free to set their own parking fines, if a new law being discussed in parliament is passed.

MPs have voted in favour of the measure at first reading - but it would take at least two years to come into effect.

At present, parking fines are managed by the police and set nationwide at €17, which some argue is not high enough to stop drivers parking illegally.

Under the new system, bad parking would no longer be a legal issue but would be overseen by individual mairies. Paris is keen to charge €36, Lyon and Strasbourg in the region of €20.

Meanwhile the Senate has unanimously voted in favour of making car-parking completely free of charge for drivers with a disabled badge in any parking space.

It would mean that drivers would not be limited to designated disabled spaces to benefit from free parking. Some towns and private car-park operators currently impose limits on length of stay, which would be scrapped.

The measure needs to be approved by the National Assembly.