Car: Is illegal parking worth it?

New study surprises

Created: 05/25/2022, 16:54

Parking offenders sometimes collect expensive fines.

But illegal parking can be worthwhile for drivers.

This is the result of researchers from Munich.

Kassel – Wrong parking can be worthwhile for drivers.

For example in Freiburg, as a new study by the Munich University of Applied Sciences has shown.

The reason: The probability of being caught is low in many parts of the city and the parking ticket costs are high at the same time.

Therefore, illegal parking is worthwhile for rationally weighing traffic offenders.

The experts see drastically higher penalties for parking offenders as the only solution.

For their study, the researchers divided the city in Breisgau into hexagons.

Based on the respective number of parking violations and the frequency of checks, the team determined the probability of being caught illegally.

Wrong parking is worthwhile for drivers: study authors propose a solution

This risk can be related to the amount of the fine - the result: In 61.3 percent of the hex hours located in the center and in 94.4 percent of the hex hours located outside, it is worthwhile for drivers not to pay parking fees.

The study authors then discuss possible measures.

One thesis: An almost 100% control would be completely unprofitable from an economic point of view.

Because a higher density of controls would shift the cost-benefit calculation for parking offenders, but would cost the municipality a lot of money.

Is illegal parking worth it?

Study surprises (symbolic photo).

© Roland Holschneider/dpa

Alternatively, the parking fees for motorists could be reduced.

This measure would also change the cost-benefit analysis of illegal parking.

However, the scientists are of the opinion that even this option is no longer a possible solution.

Because: The measure would lead to a further increase in traffic in the districts concerned.

In Kassel: driver angry about traffic tickets

For the researchers, the only logical consequence is an increase in penalties.

However, the penalties for parking offenders are regulated nationwide by the catalog of fines and cannot be individually adjusted by the cities.

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Rewe customer finds sunflower oil – and is “a bit surprised” at the price

In Kassel, the parking lots of Rewe, Aldi and other shops have been digitally monitored since January.

Since then, parking offenders have been asked to pay.

But a woman from Kassel "doesn't want to pay" her ticket under any circumstances.

In addition, serious changes are in the offing for motorists in Kassel: parking at Herkules, below Wilhelmshöhe Palace, and also in front of the Wilhelmsthal Palace park will be subject to a charge.

And in Göttingen, a new parking guidance system will be introduced.

The days of long searches for a parking space and closed roads should soon be over in Göttingen.

(Jan-Frederik Wendt)