PARKING on the side of roads would be more expensive than parking in a nearby lot, said a new regulation intended to reduce the amount of vehicles cluttering Shenzhen roadsides and increase parking spaces’ turnover.

    Roadside parking also will cost more during the day than at night, and more in busier areas than those less traveled, according to the proposed regulation that’s now under review and open for public comments.

    Cars parked in a roadside spot for more than 24 hours will be towed by the traffic police, and overtime parking will incur fines three times the amount of the initial fee.

    Drivers who park outside the lines of a parking space will be fined 200 yuan (US$32).

    The fees and fines will be injected into a special fund to develop public transportation, improve road conditions and ease traffic congestion, the regulation stipulates.

    Roadside parking will be under the administration of traffic police and the transportation department.

    Possible locations of new roadside parking lots will be announced and opened for public comment in the near future.

    If a car is damaged or stolen when parked at a legal roadside parking lot, city administration will not be responsible for the damages or loss.

    Special vehicles such as those used by the military, police, fire-fighting departments and medical services are allowed to park for free according to national regulations and won’t be subject to the new fees and fines.

    Many residents don’t approve of the proposed regulation.

    “It is unreasonable to charge more for roadside parking because the roads are built with taxes paid by citizens and it makes no sense to charge more than parking lots,” said a netizen using the Web name “Yebangesheng.”

    (Wang Yuanyuan)