Parking

Driving - Licenses - Parking - Your Car

Parking in any of the island towns during the months of summer in the past has been an ever increasing nightmare, but the authorities and their buddies have come up with the same solution as most 'civilised' countries in the world. Charge people to park where they could previously park for free and all of a sudden the problem goes away. A hidden bonus is that all that walking from the outskirts cures obesity too! This is best illustrated by the speed with which the local traffic wardens go about their business. It may be the commission, but on the other hand it could just be the enthusiasm of securing a new job?

Many of the roads in the three largest island towns have blue markings along the kerb. These indicate that you must obtain a parking ticket from one of the nearby machines and display it in the windscreen of your car. However, in true Spanish tradition, these machines also need a siesta in the hottest part of the day, so they don't charge you whilst they and their pet traffic wardens are off for their siesta between 2 & 4 pm. But since the shops are all shut too, why would you want a parking place in the middle of town on a sunny day?

Yellow markings on the kerb mean that you are not allowed to park here and if you do so your car will be towed away.

Nonetheless, when they aren't on siesta if you exceed the amount of time that you purchased you may well find a parking fine on your windscreen upon your return. However, if you are no more than one hour overdue this fine can be cancelled by returning to the ticket machine and pressing the appropriate button until the machine displays 'Anulado'. Then insert three euros and put this new ticket with the parking fine ticket into the small envelope provided by the traffic warden. If you then put the sealed envelope into the small letter box at the bottom of the machine, that should be the end of the matter.

Often you will notice green markings on the kerb in addition to the blue ones. This shows that the blue areas are reserved for residents who have a special sticker on their windscreens enabling them to park outside their home or business at a reduced rate. If you do not have a sticker, you will receive a parking fine if you park in these places.

1. When the vehicle is parked, the driver must take the corresponding ticket from the closest ticket dispenser.

2.The parking ticket must be placed inside the windscreen of the vehicle so that it is visible.

3. maximum parking time: 2hours (after the ticket has expired or if there is no ticket, the vehicle shall be fined).

4.Paying fines. If your vehicle has received a ticket for exceeding the maximum authorised parking time, the fine may be cancelled by despositing 3 euros in the closest ticket dispenser , provided that the period does not exceed 1 hour.

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