Copenhagen Council’s Centre for Parking has been forced to back off after the High Court deemed it wrong to fine a motorist twice for the same parking offence.

The motorist and the parking service agreed that the motorist had parked incorrectly with one set of wheels on the pavement. But 24 hours later, with the vehicle in the same place, a parking attendant placed yet another fine on the car.

According to the parking centres own rules, a new fine can be imposed after 24hours. In fact, the council’s rules say that up to four fines can be imposed.

But the High Court disagrees. Parking illegally can only be seen as a single offence, irrespective of the length of stay, the judgment says.

Nor does the court see any legal basis for issuing several parking fines, even if the contravention continues – for example if the vehicle owner has gone on vacation.

Nor, the judgment says, does the law provide for parking authorities to determine their own rules on multi-fines, or the time frames involved.

“As a result (the court) finds that under current rules it is only possible to impose one fine for the same parking contravention,” the court says.

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