That dreaded moment ... |
Its not get back to the car quicker or shorten your lunch by the way - that's simply out of the question!
So you're literally a few minutes over the pay and display time on the ticket and are faced with a rather hefty fine. How many of you are aware that you can cancel the fine if you are within 1 hour of the expiry time for a nominal 3 euro's?
I spoke to a Benidorm traffic warden to confirm this was the case, so here goes...
You are required to "Pay and Display" if you park within a blue painted parking bay. The white ones off the Avd Mediterraneo are free - but these have usually been taken by the locals working nearby. If you happen to come across a white bay park there. Parking charges apply between 9.00 - 14.00 then again between 16.00 - 21.00. There is no charge over the 2 hour lunch break so if you put money into the machine it will not include that period - how civilized.
Minimum charge is 30 cents for 30 minutes up to a maximum of 1.20€ for 2 hours. So if you put 60 cents (1 hours worth) in at 1.45pm the ticket would show an expiry time of 4.45pm... or better still, if you put in 1.20€ at 20.30 and go out for a drinking spree you don't have to worry about waking up early to move the car as the ticket will be valid until 10.30am - what a clever machine! I wonder whether Westminster City Council in London would consider such a machine....
Now what to do if you return to your car and you find the dreaded parking fine. If you are within 1 hour of the expiry time follow these steps.
Go to the ticket machine, insert 3€ and press the RED button - ""Anulacion Denuncia" which means cancel fine! You will get a print out similar the pay and display ticket.
Take you parking fine and peel off the double sided sticky tape underneath the printed receipt which the traffic warden has given and attach your 3€ receipt.
Post your "paid" fine in here |
So don't panic too much, however if you are over 1 hour then I'm afraid that you'll have to pay the full fine.
This is particularly useful for those on holiday with hire cars as the car hire company will still debit your credit card PLUS extra admin on top of the fine, possibly months after your return home.