The House of Representatives received a bill forbidding people from standing in parking spots to reserve them.
The practice of people standing on parking spots to reserve them and physically blocking other vehicles is against common courtesy and the fundamental idea that parking should be on a first-come, first-served basis, according to Akbayan Representative Percival Cendaña, who filed House Bill 11076, also known as the proposed "Mindful Parking" Act.
A safety risk
Cendana claims that standing in areas intended for motor vehicles puts people's safety at risk.
“It is necessary to regulate the use of limited spaces and resources to promote fairness among users and protect them from harm,” he explained.
According to the bill, a parking spot is an area on private or public land that is specifically designated for the short-term parking of motor vehicles.
Slap in the wrist
The proposed law specifies fines for the person who made the parking reservation as well as the driver of the car that is supposed to park there.
The first infraction carries a PHP2,000 fine, the second carries a PHP5,000 fine and a six-month suspension of the driver's license, and the third carries a PHP10,000 fine and license revocation.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will have administrative jurisdiction over infractions after the bill is passed. Additionally, institutions must implement procedures to stop this behavior and penalize non-compliant parties. Failure to do so could result in fines ranging from PHP10,000 to PHP50,000.
