Outrage over overpriced parking penalty in Freistadt - citizens are horrified!

Outrage over overpriced parking penalty in Freistadt - citizens are horrified!

More and more Freistädter are outraged by the numerous parking sentences that have been pronounced for a few weeks in the Freistadt South Higher Market Center. As can be seen from the regional news platform, these punishments are imposed by Loyal Parking, and often it is only small violations that lead to strong fines. A penalty of 110 euros is particularly painful for those affected, not least because it is due even with a few minutes long exceeding of the specified parking times. The parking times are from 8.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays until 5:30 p.m., with a maximum parking time of three hours that customers have to maintain.

A particularly sensational case is that of a 73-year-old woman who received a punishment while she only briefly used the parking lot to find out about the opening hours of the shops. Such stories cause plenty of resentment on social media, and many residents are considering shopping in Freistadt in the future. Mayor Christian Gratzl has heard the complaints of the citizens and is planning a conversation with city marketing and Loyal Parking because he fears that the high punishments could have negative effects on the business centers in Freistadt. He appeals to the goodwill of the company so as not to further scare the customers.

Why are there such strict measures? According to an employee of Hervis, Ingrid Graser, the penalties have been introduced to prevent abuse of the parking lot. The monitoring is carried out by private companies that control supermarket parking spaces and can also apply legal means such as towing if they are parked incorrectly on private property. The signs at the parking lot must provide transparent information about the possible costs of violations so that drivers know in advance. According to the ADAC, these are private contractual penalties and not fines - this could offer those affected a completely new legal perspective on the punishments.

The debate about the legal foundations for such punishments is in full swing. Legal information has shown that drivers are not obliged to reveal their identity when they are charged - it is enough to name the available drivers. However, if not named, a high contractual penalty could threaten. This increases the complexity of the Situation for anyone who wants to contest a punishment. In particular, the legal consequences of non -payment or the procedure against assertive parking space surveillance companies are topics that currently employ the citizens.

Overall, it remains to be seen which results will bring the announced conversation between Mayor Gratzl and Loyal Parking. The affected Freistädter hope for a mutual solution that takes into account both the needs of the traders and that of the customers. In the long term, a revision of the rules and punishments could be necessary to ensure the satisfaction of the population and to improve the shopping experience in Freistadt.