The General Directorate of Traffic has recently revisited a continual problem we have covered before, answering a question many drivers ask, though many more ignore, as to whether it is legal to park facing the wrong direction on a road.
The short answer is that you should not park facing the wrong direction, as it is illegal, and can be considered a serious offence that carries a fine and the possible loss of points from your licence.
Parking in some congested areas of cities is an ordeal for many drivers, and some resort to a desperate solution as soon as they find a space: parking against the direction of travel. The Traffic Department has been very strict about this type of practice; it is illegal.
The DGT has clarified that this prohibition is clearly stated in the General Traffic Regulations, so drivers who park in the wrong direction will face a fine and the loss of up to six points on their driver’s licence in the worst-case scenario.
The regulations state that the vehicle “must be positioned as close as possible to the right edge of the road, except on one-way roads, where it may also be positioned on the left side.” Drivers may not park on the left side of a two-way road, although it is permitted on one-way roads provided there are no specific road signs or markings prohibiting it.
The fines imposed on drivers who park the wrong way will depend on how the violation occurred. If the police officer observes that a vehicle is parked incorrectly, they will fine the owner 100 euro.
The most serious fines will be issued if the officer observes the driver parking. The fine amounts to 500 euro and the loss of six points on the driver’s licence.
The reason for this harsher punishment is that the officer saw the driver traveling in the wrong direction, even if the distance was only a few metres. This offence is considered serious under the General Traffic Regulations.
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