Park your motorbike in a car space?
Park your motorbike in a car space?
"I ride a motorbike. I had an appointment in the town centre and all the spaces reserved for 2-wheelers were occupied, so I parked in a white space. When I got back, I was surprised to find that a contract worker had amended my parking ticket, citing article 253a with the words "Case voiture" (car parking space).
What about it? Can I object?
Cyrille, Grand-Lancy
Under the Road Signs and Signals Act, parking spaces must only be used by the vehicles for which they have been designed. In some cases, the category of vehicle authorised to park in certain spaces is represented by a symbol on an additional plate or in the blue field of the sign. The most common vehicle categories are motorbikes, cars, agricultural vehicles, passenger cars and mopeds.
Any breach of a traffic regulation may be punished by a fine of up to CHF 300. These fines may be accumulated to form a total fine if several offences are committed at the same time. In the event of parking in a space that, due to its dimensions, is not intended for the category of vehicle owned by the offender, the amount of the fine may vary from CHF 40 to CHF 100, depending on the length of unauthorised parking.
In Geneva, it is the gendarmerie that is responsible for issuing parking fines, and more specifically the parking inspectors, as well as the municipal police, within the limits of their powers. It should be noted that officers are only entitled to collect fines on the road if they are wearing their service uniform. The fine can be paid immediately by the offender or within thirty days. It is then anonymous and free of charge. If the fine is not paid, proceedings are initiated against the offender: the fines department draws up a penalty order, which can be opposed within 10 days in writing or in person at the fines department. Once all the evidence has been gathered, the Offences Department will decide whether to dismiss the case, uphold it or issue a new criminal court order. If it upholds the order, it becomes an indictment and is sent to the Police Court for judgment. The fees charged by the criminal prosecution authorities vary from CHF 200 to CHF 4,000 in the event of a conviction.
