Fines for motorists and vendors who repeatedly make illegal use of paid parking spaces along Monivong Boulevard have risen sharply this month as the city attempts to crack down on repeat parking offenders.
“It was noticed that people still are not parking properly in designated parking areas,” said an Aug 15 announcement from City Hall, which also noted that illegal vendors and improperly parked vehicles will now be subject to fines of 200,000 riel, or about $50. The new fines only apply to vehicle owners and vendors who have already racked up more than one parking offense.
Previously, all parking violations on Monivong were subject to fines of between 10,000 and 20,000 riel, said Em Sombath, chief of the municipal order police bureau. About 2 million riel, or about $500, in parking fines was collected each month prior to the increase, he said.
“Since the announcement, we haven’t given anyone a big fine yet,” said Mr Sombath.
Currently, drivers pay 1,000 riel for the first hour of parking in the designated spaces and 500 riel for each subsequent hour, while motorcycle owners pay 500 riel per hour. Vendors are not allowed to use the parking areas.
According to Mr Sombath, about 25 percent of motorists parking in the 950 designated spaces on Monivong Boulevard fail to pay parking fees or to keep their vehicles within designated parking spaces.
“Monivong Boulevard should be a good example of public order,” he said.
Orderly parking and unobstructed walkways are also key to pedestrian safety, said Sann Socheata of Handicap International. “It is crucial to improve pedestrian facilities in Phnom Penh,” she said.
The paid parking scheme commenced on Monivong Boulevard in November, in an effort managed by Malaysia-based company Edisijuta (Cambodia) Pte Ltd.
The city intends to expand paid parking operations in the next five years to other major city thoroughfares.
