This is an item that everyone usually has in their car. A small blue discor rather white in blue support, which is used by millions of motorists every day when parking. If it is already unpleasant to receive a fine, accidentally forgetting to stick it behind the windshield, being distracted; imagine how it would be fined when it was clearly visible. And yet it is possible. Indeed, this innocuous-looking little blue disk meets certain European standards. Enough in any case to make the “old” parking discs obsolete. And there are several reasons for this.

Old and new

Because if the old and new discs give approximately the same information, they still have noticeable differences. Namelyarrival time vehicle, and therefore his departure time expected. Except that the new discs no longer mention the parking end time “To enable communities to adapt parking durations to local needs,” the road safety website explains. THE old records, equipped with two windows indicating, respectively, the time interval of arrival and the time of departure, gave the right to a parking period from 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. So they are now outdated.

European standard

Since 2012, France has moved to European format disc. This blue disc is displayed one window with a large arrow indicating the beginning of the parking time. It is calculated on the hour and half hour, divided into ten minute increments from the specified time, the vehicle may remain parked in this location as long as permitted by municipal regulations. Be sure to read the parking signs carefully. to avoid unpleasant surprises.

“Failure to use the appropriate disc is punishable by a fine corresponding to class one fines for stopping and parking, i.e. a fixed fine of €17”, this is also indicated on the road safety website.

Finally, know thisit is forbidden to return to your car to change the time of the parking disc. The vehicle must be moved. Discs with a built-in timer that automatically changes the time shown on the disc are also prohibited and subject to a fine.