A bill could allow camera-based parking enforcement in Hungary

The enforcement of paid parking and the way drivers are notified about parking surcharges could change under a bill submitted for public consultation. The plan was announced by Minister of Transport and Investment Dávid Vitézy: local governments could use cars equipped with license plate recognition cameras to check whether parking fees have been paid.

The vehicle’s registered operator would be notified of the surcharge

Paper surcharge notices placed on windshields, known as “Santa packages,” could be discontinued. Instead, the vehicle’s registered operator would receive a notice electronically or by post, similar to the system used for motorway toll debts. Currently, parking attendants mostly check the streets on foot and place a paper notice on the car if a surcharge is due.

The surcharge for failing to pay the parking fee would remain: the proposal concerns how parking is enforced and how notices are delivered. Detailed rules would be set out later in a separate decree. It is not yet known whether the change would be introduced only in Budapest or across the whole country.

In Szeged, SZKT is responsible for parking

In Szeged, the municipally owned SZKT is responsible for parking. The government could introduce regulations requiring the city to adopt the new system. According to a report by Portfolio, Dávid Vitézy believes the change would require less staff and administration, while more of the revenue from parking could go toward road repairs.

The latest major debate over paid parking in Szeged ended in June: Deputy Mayor for Urban Development Sándor Nagy withdrew his proposal to expand the paid zone from around 3 to more than 8 square kilometers. The current bill concerns possible changes to enforcement and the notification of parking surcharges.

Source: Szegeder