Private parking business model: A student draws attention to a dazzling case in Graz’s brewery district. The young man parked his car for a few minutes in a privately rented parking lot. With terrible consequences.
The 25-year-old told ‘Krone’ that he had illegally parked his mother’s car there for three minutes in early October. That was enough for a lawyer’s letter, which was tough: the legal representation of the parking lot tenant demanded no less than 250 euros from the young man. The letter mentions a parking time of at least ten minutes, but here too the question of proportionality arises.
“Clearly marked as private parking”
The letter from mid-October literally states: “You have until at least October XX, 2024 at XX:36 am to park your vehicle with the official license plate. […] in the marked parking lot at Brauquartier address […]8055 Graz the parking lot no. […] blocked by my client even though it is clearly marked as a private parking lot with a corresponding sign. This parking space is rented by my customer.”
Several witnesses observed the student’s vehicle “and also took pictures of it.” The man now has two weeks to transfer the required 250 euros and sign a declaration of charges (see above). If that doesn’t happen, there is already a warrant to file a lawsuit. “I assume, however, that you will accept the offer of an out-of-court, and therefore much more cost-effective, settlement,” says the law firm from Graz-Gries.
50 percent “student discount”
In fact, the 25-year-old was able to reduce the requested amount to half. The other party agreed to a fine of 125 euros – also because the illegally parked driver was a student – and the case was closed for both parties.
For the young man, it is still a “huge amount” that, according to inquiries from his lawyer, could have been much higher. Such cases are also not new in Styria; they operate in a legal gray area and, according to his legal representative, up to 800 euros could have been demanded. “I actually came out of it well,” the 25-year-old reflects.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s Porsche or Seat”
As a student, the experience was still “very bitter.” What particularly annoys him is the fact that anyone can be asked to pay indiscriminately, no matter how short the offense may have been and regardless of the financial capacity of the illegally parked driver. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a Porsche or a Seat.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
