EOS MAIL BOX

On more than one occasion, when looking for a parking space in the street you will have come across a person without a vehicle standing in a space and 'saving' that space for some other car - or maybe that was even you standing there!

This is a situation that tends to generate conflict and many times arguments as to who should occupy the parking space. So where does the law stand with this? Is it legal or not?

The Law on Traffic and Road Safety specifies that "as long as there is a safe area, a pedestrian area or some other suitable space, pedestrians may not remain immobile on a hard shoulder or on a road, not even while waiting for a vehicle, they must remain in this safe area until the vehicle reaches their position."

Therefore, what the law is saying is that this is an action that is not permitted.  Although it is common and many people do it, blocking a site for a friend or family member is not allowed and the vehicle that wants to park can do so legally. The problem arises if the person occupying the parking space is not willing to move away.

The solution may be to call the police, since invading the road or crossing it in an inappropriate manner carries a fine of 80 euros.

Another less frequent 'trick' but also carried out by some people is to park the vehicle incorrectly, occupying two spaces by exceeding the line that delimits each space. In this case, if a person reports what happened, the tow truck can proceed to remove the vehicle and impose a fine of 80 euros up to 200.

Something to think about...

A part of one of the oldest towers in Madrid is nestled among the cars in a nondescript underground car park. Stumbling upon it is a treat for those looking for a place to park before heading to the Royal Palace in Madrid.

The Tower of Bones (la Torre de los Huesos) was built in the 11th century by the area’s Muslim inhabitants. It received its name because it was near Huesa del Raf, the ancient Islamic cemetery. The tower was built two centuries after the 9th-century construction of the walls of Mayrit, the medieval Muslim city that predates the Spanish one.

The looming structure was situated outside the citadel, where it functioned as a surveillance post over the old Arenal stream. When King Alfonso VI of Castile conquered Madrid in the early 11th century, the watchtower was incorporated into the Christian wall.

The Royal Palace now occupies the space the tower was built to guard. Bits of its base were discovered in 1996 during renovation work on the Plaza de Oriente by workers constructing an underground parking lot. The partially preserved remains are on display where they were found.

The carpark is situated in front of the Royal Palace in the heart of Madrid. The nearest tube station is "Opera."