BILL ON BANNING ‘STANDEES’ RESERVATION OF PARKING SPACES, FILED

House bill banning reservation of parking spaces from physically standing on them has been filed (Photo courtesy of Parkeserye/PhilStar)

A lawmaker filed a bill at the House of Representatives to address a longtime source of aggravation in car parks that prohibit individuals from physically reserving parking spaces by standing on them.

House Bill 11076 or the proposed "Mindful Parking" Act focus on the practice of individuals standing on parking spaces to reserve them and physically obstructing other vehicles violates common courtesy and the basic principle that parking should be on a first-come, first-served basis.

According to the author of the bill, this kind of practice not only violates common courtesy and the basic principle that parking should be on a first-come, first-served basis, but it also endangers individuals who occupy spaces meant for motor vehicles.

Parking space, as defined by the bill, refers to a designated area within public or private property intended for the temporary parking of a motor vehicle.

The bill reads: “No person shall physically occupy a public parking space in a manner as to obstruct a motor vehicle from parking on the same space or to reserve the space for parking by another motor vehicle.”

Under the bill, private establishments with parking spaces must also adopt similar policies. Both the person reserving the space and the motorist eyeing the spot are to be held liable for the violation.

The first offense carries a P2,000 fine, while the second offense results in a P5,000 fine and the suspension of the driver’s license. Subsequent violations call for a fine of P10,000 and the revocation of the license. On the part of private establishments, their owners also face fines of between P10,000 and P50,000 if found remiss in enforcing the measure.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila Council (MMC) are also eyeing a proposed ordinance that will prohibit people to prohibit and penalize standing on parking space to reserve it.

This comes after a video circulated on social media about a woman standing to reserve a parking slot in a Las Piñas cemetery, which another woman pushed to make way for a vehicle.

“It can lead to people hurting each other, which is what we want to prevent. Let’s not allow it to get that bad.”

The MMC came up with the idea after receiving reports of violent incidents due to fights over parking lots. MMDA said they will coordinate with malls and private parking owners to institutionalize this policy and ban it.

Source: ABS-CBN News 

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