Many parking fines may be illegal

A DRIVER has had a parking fine annulled after using a legal loophole to prove the penalty was against the law.

A legal expert for motoring association 40 Millions d’Automobilistes, Rémy Josseaume, discovered that councils must legally give formal justification in their bylaws for having paid-for parking.

A council's reasons must go beyond making money, such as helping traffic flow or preventing shops from being blocked.

The juge de proximité in Versailles said Rambouillet council had not given such reasons and cancelled the fine, which dated from 2006, and awarded a token payout of €9.

The drivers’ association now believes there may be hundreds of communes that are illegally making people pay to park. It is encouraging people in such areas to contest their fines, citing the decision in Versailles.

Rambouillet has now redrafted its law.

Photo: Yves Roland – Fotolia.com