[EN] Is it legal to book a parking space in Zaragoza with another car? This is what the regulations say

There are parking spaces that seem to have an owner even though they are in the middle of the street. A car that leaves and leaves the space free, a strategically placed motorcycle or even another person waiting to make sure that no one gets ahead. The scene of reserving a parking lot to use it later is repeated in Zaragoza and generates discussions between drivers and neighbors, but the question is not whether it is more or less civic: can it be done?

The answer has some nuances. There is no state regulation that expressly prohibits «saving» a place, but there are different behaviors associated with this practice that can be punished. Placing objects to prevent another vehicle from parking may constitute an obstruction, while using a car to take up more space than allowed may be considered improper parking. Parking while occupying two spaces can lead to fines and can also end with the removal of the vehicle by the tow truck if the circumstances are met.

It also doesn’t matter if that space is the place where a person usually parks or that they intend to return a few minutes or hours later. A free space on public roads is not reserved for those who previously used it. The municipal ordinances of each city may also establish their own rules, so the action of the agents will depend on the specific conduct and the applicable regulations in each case.

CARS, MOTORCYCLES AND OBJECTS TO PRESERVE A GAP

In Zaragoza there are already those who have taken these situations to groups of neighbors on social networks. In Delicias, for example, cases have been reported in which a work vehicle is removed and then the private car is placed to conserve space until the end of the day. The use of several motorcycles to keep the gap occupied has also been pointed out. While some neighbors describe these practices as «cheeky,» others defend them and even encourage them to do the same.

Nor does the use of objects turn a public square into a private reserve. Chairs, boxes, cones, bicycles, containers or any other element placed to prevent the parking of other vehicles may be subject to police action if they obstruct traffic or fail to comply with the regulations. The same goes for other ways to physically block off space.

Therefore, the key is not to confuse two concepts. There is no specific fine for «saving a parking space,» but that doesn’t mean that any method used to do so is legal. It is one thing to find a free space and park correctly and quite another to use a vehicle, an object or a person to prevent other drivers from using it. That is where sanctions can appear.