New Social Media “Hack” Lets Drivers Dodge Parking Fees Without Fines
Parking costs in urban areas can seriously dent your wallet, especially in cities like Paris where most drivers think twice before driving into the city. Parking rates vary by district, from 4 to 6 euros per hour, and are set to skyrocket between 12 and 18 euros per hour for SUVs and 4x4s from October 1, 2024. Frustrated by these exorbitant fees, some motorists have resorted to cunning tactics to avoid fines: from covering their license plates with fabric to a new deceptive trick circulating on social media.
Since 2018, Paris has implemented the Automated License Plate Reading (ALPR) system to monitor vehicle parking. However, this system has its flaws, as the camera-equipped cars cannot detect obscured plates. According to Sébastien Dufour, a Paris-based lawyer specializing in motorist defense, “Simply covering your license plate can fool the ALPR since the person in the vehicle cannot step out to remove the tape or cloth covering the plate,” he explains in a video on his TikTok account @maître.dufour. He also notes a legal ambiguity: while it’s illegal to conceal a license plate on a moving vehicle, “no law prohibits hiding your plate when parked.”
A Loophole Exploited by Thousands
Another method widely shared among drivers on social media involves a workaround to evade high parking fees in Paris. With the shift from manual enforcement to automated systems, drivers have been selecting a “disabled” option at parking meters, pressing choice number 6, and registering their license plate. The result? Free parking for 24 hours in central Paris! The catch? The system does not require a disabled person’s card or card number, and like in the previous case, control cars cannot verify whether a card is displayed on the dashboard. “I have not found any law that penalizes this behavior,” adds Dufour, noting that the car is parked in a regular, non-disabled spot.
But what happens if an officer spots the deceit on the street? “There are fewer officers on foot these days, and at worst, if it’s discovered you don’t have a disabled card, you would just receive a standard parking fine for non-payment,” Dufour estimates. However, using this technique through the Pay by Phone app and selecting the “Disabled – all zones” option for daily parking costs merely 0.25 cents. Yet, the app does warn that “using this type of ticket without holding a valid card is a criminal offense liable to 5 years in prison and a 75,000 euros fine (under article 441-2 of the penal code).” Additionally, the fine for post-parking is 225 euros.
While most individuals who have tried this method have not been fined, thanks in part to the ALPR system’s shortcomings, the widespread sharing of this hack on social media may soon draw the attention of law enforcement authorities.
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Felix Marlowe manages Belles and Gals’ vibrant social media platforms. With expertise in social engagement and viral marketing, Felix creates content that sparks conversation and keeps followers coming back for more. From celebrity news to trending challenges, Felix makes sure our social media stays at the forefront of pop culture.
