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.
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