Mayors could set own parking fines

National €17 rate could be replaced by varying rates from one town to the next if law passes

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.