Fine for parking prohibited (abusive, inconvenient, very inconvenient, dangerous)

Verified 20 May 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

You received a notice of a parking ticket and you don't know when you must pay the fine? We provide you with the information you need to know about the parking prohibited.

This page shows the rules for category M and category N. Exceptions applicable to L-category vehicles, to personal transport equipment and bicycles are not specified.

We must not confuse the infringements parking rules with the post-parking package (FPS) which applies in an area where parking is not free.

Stopping and parking a vehicle is prohibited when it is dangerous, very inconvenient, inconvenient or abusive.

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Hazardous parking

A stationary or parked vehicle shall not constitute a danger to users.

Any dangerous stopping or parking shall be punished by a flat-rate fine of €135. Three points are removed from your driving license. Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded if you are not present or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

You may also additional penalty suspension of the driving license for a maximum period of 3 years (the suspension may be limited to driving outside the professional activity).

The following stops and parking lots are considered to be dangerous, when visibility is insufficient :

  • Near road intersections
  • Close to the bends
  • Close to the peaks of the coast
  • Close to level crossings.

Parking very inconvenient

Any stop or parking very embarrassing shall be sanctioned by a flat-rate fine of €135. Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded if you are not present or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

The stops and parking are considered to be very embarrassing :

  • On roads and lanes reserved for certain categories of vehicles (taxi, priority public interest vehicle...), except in cases of absolute necessity
  • In the delimited tourist areas by municipal decree
  • On spaces reserved for vehicles carrying a mobility card inclusion parking or the old parking card
  • On parking spaces reserved for vehicles transporting cash or precious metals
  • On pedestrian crossings
  • Near the alertness tapes except those which signal the quay of a public transport stop
  • In the vicinity of traffic lights or traffic signs, where the vehicle gage could conceal such signs from the sight of track users
  • On the pavements
  • On the Green Lanes
  • On bike lanes and paths
  • For a distance of 5 meters upstream of the pedestrian crossings in the direction of traffic, outside the locations materialized for this purpose
  • Near the fire hydrants.

Awkward parking

A stationary or parked vehicle shall be placed in such a way as to impede traffic as little as possible.

Any inconvenient stopping or parking is sanctioned by a flat-rate fine of €35. Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded if you are not present or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

The stops and parking are considered to be embarrassing :

  • On spaces reserved for public passenger transport vehicles, taxis, vehicles with the label car-sharing  or vehicles used for public service (e.g. buses). However, timetables during which parking is authorized may be fixed by municipal decree.
  • Between the edge of the carriageway and a continuous line, where the width of the track remaining free between that line and the vehicle does not allow another vehicle to travel without crossing or straddling the line
  • In places where the vehicle prevents either access to or removal from another stationary or parked vehicle
  • On bridges, in underground passages, tunnels and under overpasses, except where otherwise provided by municipal decree
  • On emergency lanes, unless absolutely necessary
  • On a public road specially designated by municipal decree.

The parking are considered to be embarrassing :

  • In front of the driveways of the riparian buildings
  • Duplicate Queue
  • In front of electric vehicle charging stations
  • On the spaces reserved for delivery vehicles. However, timetables during which parking is authorized may be fixed by municipal decree.
  • In the meeting areas, other than spaces provided for that purpose
  • In pedestrian areas
  • Above reported access to underground facilities.

Abusive parking

It is forbidden to improperly leave a vehicle parked on a road.

Parking is considered as abusive when the vehicle is parked on the public road, in the same place for more than 7 days. A shorter period may be fixed by municipal decree.

Unfair parking is punished by a flat-rate fine of €35.

Your vehicle may be immobilized and impounded if you are not present or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

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Illustration X
Crédits: Direction de l’information légale et administrative

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Parking abusive, annoying, very annoying, forbidden: what difference?

-Abusive parking:

7 days in the same place

Penalty: Flat-rate fine of €35 (€75 if payment deadline is exceeded). Your vehicle can be immobilized and impounded if you are absent or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

-Awkward parking:

· On a reserved area: taxi, bus...

· On a location that prevents access or clearance of another vehicle

· On a bridge

· In an underground passage

· In a tunnel

· On an emergency lane unless absolutely necessary

· In front of a building's driveway

· In front of a charging station for electric vehicles

· In a space reserved for out-of-time deliveries

Penalty: Flat-rate fine of €35 (€75 if payment deadline is exceeded). Your vehicle can be immobilized and impounded if you are absent or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

-Very annoying parking:

· On a place for disabled people

· On a pedestrian crossing

· Less than 5 m upstream of a pedestrian crossing in the direction of traffic, excluding planned locations

· On a bike path

· On a greenway except authorized vehicles

· On a sidewalk

· On a bus lane, taxi, ambulances...

· On a ground carrier's seat

Penalty: flat-rate fine of €135 (€575 if payment deadline is exceeded). Your vehicle can be immobilized and impounded if you are absent or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

-Dangerous parking

· If not visible, near a road intersection

· If not visible, near a turn

· If not visible, near a hill top

· If not visible, near a crossing

Penalty: Flat-rate fine of €135 (€575 if payment deadline is exceeded) and 3 points withdrawal from the driving license. You may also have your driver's license suspended. Your vehicle can be immobilized and impounded if you are absent or if you refuse to move your vehicle.

Law enforcement officials note the contravention and draw up a report. In general, it is a electronic minutes (PVe).

One notice of violation indicating the amount of the fine and a payment notice carte grise are sent to the address indicated on the vehicle's registration certificate (these documents are sent to the identified driver at the time of the enforcement in the case of dangerous parking).

If you are present, these documents can also be given to you, but this system is in danger of disappearing.

If you are absent, a information notice is usually placed on the windshield of your vehicle.

The time limit shall be either from the time the infringement is established or, if a notice of contravention is sent, from this submission.

You have to pay the flat-rate fine in a 45-day period (60 days in case of electronic payment by credit card the notice of contravention).

If you don't pay the flat-rate fine within a period of 45 days (60 days in case of electronic payment by credit card in the notice of contravention), the amount of the monetary penalty is increased.

The period for payment shall run either from the date on which the infringement is established or, if a notice of infringement is sent, from that date.

You receive a opinion inviting you to pay the increased amount of the fine.

Amount of the fine increased

Tableau - Amount of the flat-rate fine increased for prohibited parking

Parking

Contravention Class

Amount of the fine increased

Dangerous

4e class

€375

Very embarrassing

4e class

€375

Troublesome

2e class

€75

Abusive

2e class

€75

Deadline for paying the increased fine

You must pay the increased fine in a 30-day period from the date of dispatch of the notice (45 days in case of electronic payment by credit card) to benefit from a reduction of 20 % of its amount.

If you do not meet this deadline, the Treasury can initiate a mutual agreement or legal procedure to obtain the payment.

If you have difficulty paying a flat-rate fine increased, you can request a payment delay or a gracious delivery.

You must send your request to public accountant.

Your request must be reasoned : Explain why you need time to pay or discount.

Attach the proof of your expenses and resources in particular.

If the public accountant considers your request to be justified, he or she may grant you either a payment period, or a gracious delivery partial or total (if necessary by applying a 20 % reduction).

You can pay the fine in several ways.

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To the law enforcement officer in the event of an arrest

Law enforcement intercepted your vehicle.

Law enforcement intercepted your vehicle.

You can pay by credit card, by check or cash.

You can request to receive a receipt by email (sending is systematic if you pay in cash).

Some law enforcement officers only have a stumpage. In this case, the paper receipt is given to you after payment of the fine.

Over the Internet (on your computer or smartphone)

You can pay via the Internet if the payment reference (e.g. e-payment number + key) appears on the payment card.

Payment can be made on fines.gouv.fr or on smartphone by downloading the fines.gouv mobile application on App Store or Google Play.

Pay your fine online at fines.gouv.fr

By telephone

You can pay by phone if the payment reference (e.g., e-payment number + key) is on the payment card.

Who shall I contact

  • Call center to pay your fine by phone

    By telephone

    0806 20 30 40

    24 hours a day

    No surtax number

From a buralist or certified partner

You can pay by credit card or in cash from an authorized dealer or partner Proximity Payment if the notice includes a  Datamatrix.

You can also pay with a licensed dealer Electronic payment of fines, by any means accepted by the buralist.

You need the payment card attached to the ticket notice.

A proof of payment will be provided.

Please note

Payment from a licensed dealer Electronic payment of fines (i.e. by dematerialized stamp) is not accepted for an increased flat-rate fine.

To a Public Finance Center

You can pay the fine at the counter of a public finance center.

You need the payment card attached to the notice.

You can pay by credit card or check.

By mail (check)

You can pay the fine by check made payable to the public treasury.

Send the check and payment card in the envelope attached to postage.

If you no longer have the return envelope, send your check and payment card to the Public Finance Center. For a notice of contravention, contact information for the center is to be requested from the call center mentioned on the notice. In the case of a Notice of Assessment of Monetary Penalty, the contact details of the center are indicated on the notice.

Please note

The payment of the fine means that you acknowledge the offense. You will no longer be able to challenge your contravention. If it's a dangerous parking ticket with a point retraction, they're removed from your driver's license.

Reminder

You cannot challenge a notice of contravention if you have paid the fine.

Time limit for contesting

You have a deadline of 45 days to challenge a flat-rate fine.

The period shall run from the date on which the offense or, if a notice of contravention is sent, from that sending.

Application for exemption

You can challenge the notice of contravention online or by mail.

Online

You can challenge the ticket online on the website of theANTAI: titleContent.

See the Notice of Contravention for instructions on how to proceed.

Lump-sum Notice of Assessment: Designation of another person or online challenge

By mail

You must complete the exemption request form attached to the notice of contravention. The form explains how to fill it out.

Send the notice of contravention and the request for exemption form by mail RAR: titleContent the Public Prosecutor's Office (PMO). The address of the PMO is indicated on the notice of contravention.

Supporting documents

You don't have to pay consignment to be able to challenge the fine.

Attach supporting documents that identify the actual perpetrator of the offense or establish the existence of an event force majeure.

The public prosecutor's office may waive any prosecution, declare your challenge inadmissible or sue you at the police court :

  • If the prosecution waives all legal proceedings, your file is filed without further action. You will receive a letter to inform you.
  • If the prosecution declares your challenge inadmissible (for example, because you did not attach the notice of contravention to the challenge form), you will receive a letter informing you of this. You must pay the fine or face a surcharge or enforcement by a Commissioner of Justice.
  • If the prosecution takes you to the police court, you will receive a summons to present your challenge to a judge.

You can track your case online of infringement:

Check your infringement file

Pay your fine online at fines.gouv.fr

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