Can a Pedestrian Hold a Parking Space on the Street Until the Vehicle Arrives? This is What the Law Says

In summer, certain tourist spots become overcrowded. This not only means more difficulties in reserving a table for lunch or finding a spot on the beach. It also means greater challenges in finding parking.

This is not something that happens only in tourist areas during summer; it can occur year-round in particularly busy places like city centers.

Given these difficulties, a common practice is to ask a family member or friend to go down and hold the spot to save time. In fact, an incident went viral last week where a driver and a woman holding a parking space had a heated argument because the former wanted to park his vehicle and the latter wouldn't let him. But what does the law say about all this?

As explained by RACE, there is no specific rule that explicitly prohibits this behavior. However, the Royal Automobile Club of Spain refers to Article 122.6 of the General Traffic Regulations.

"When there is a refuge, pedestrian area, or other suitable space, no pedestrian should remain stopped on the roadway or shoulder, even while waiting for a vehicle, and to board it, they may only enter the roadway when it is at their level," it states.

For this reason, RACE estimates that the ambiguity of this wording could lead an officer to fine someone for remaining stopped on the road, whether holding a spot for a driver or simply waiting to get into a vehicle.

They also point out that the fine would be 80 euros. Additionally, they remind that using the method of parking between two spaces to wait for another vehicle is also a practice that should not be done, and for improper parking, the fine can be 200 euros.