This fairly ordinary offence will cost a lot more from 1 October, the fine could reach up to 225 euros.
A fine of several hundred euros is quite rare for motorists and generally concerns serious breaches of the Highway Code. We are thinking in particular of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, serious speeding or even driving a vehicle without a licence. This is, however, almost unheard of for an offence that does not endanger the lives of others. However, this is the case for this fairly ordinary offence which, starting this Tuesday, October 1st, could cost you dearly.
If you have been following the news at all, you have probably heard about the increase in parking prices for the heaviest vehicles. This new pricing will come into effect today in Paris and other major cities in France could soon follow suit. This increase concerns thermal vehicles (petrol, diesel, etc.) whose weight empty exceeds 1,600 kilos but also, and this is still quite surprising, electric vehicles if they exceed 2 tonnes. For these vehicles – stamped SUV in most cases – the price for parking in the capital will triple, going from 6 to 18 euros per hour in districts 1 to 11, and from 4 to 12 euros in districts 12 euros 20.
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We agree, it has made parking spaces very expensive. But what will now be even more expensive is the amount of the fine that will be issued to motorists who do not use the parking meter. Until now, in Paris, the amount of the fine for failure to pay for parking was set at 50 euros in the 1st to 11th and 2nd arrondissements. 35 euros in the other nine. Since October 1, all owners of SUVs over 1.6 or 2 tons depending on their engine will risk a three-figure fine if they do not pay for their parking space or if they exceed the duration for which they had paid*.
For any failure to pay for parking, Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (excluding public holidays), the fine will be €225 in the first eleven districts of the capital, and €150 in the other nine. Even the reduced rate – applied if you comply within 15 days of receiving the ticket – is dizzying, with €157.5 and €105 to pay respectively. Enough to dissuade those who used to park their cars “for free” in Paris. Even if it costs 18 or 12 euros per hour, it will be a hard hit on the wallet.
* in the event of a fine for exceeding the time limit, the amount already paid is deducted from the post-parking fee