Strange deal for parking fines: Zurich company pays 10 francs per car monitored

The day Keller parked his motorcycle illegally, he was visited by two ParkPro representatives. Keller, whose real name is different, says they scared him and threatened him with consequences. They finally came to an agreement: If he removed the bike, he wouldn’t be charged anything.

However, a few months later, ParkPro sent him an invoice for 90 francs as “compensation for expenses”. When Keller objected via email, ParkPro made him a rather unusual offer.

If he takes photos of vehicles parked illegally on his property from his apartment in the future, the bill will be waived. He also gets ten francs for every car photographed – “what do you call that?”

ParkPro apologized

“I know they were right. I shouldn’t have parked there,” Fabian Keller told the observer. “But I was not involved in this dubious deal.” Keller decided to pay 90 francs. ParkPro later withdrew the offer.

In response to the observer’s question, the general manager wrote that he was sorry that Fabian Keller perceived the offer as blackmail. He saw this as an opportunity for Keller to “make some money.” He did not answer any other questions.

Business with private parking

No person operating a private parking lot is allowed to issue tickets to those who park illegally. However, operators are allowed to bill for their activities, such as the effort required to search for photographic evidence or address searches, and claim so-called compensation for the activities.

The amount of compensation is not fixed. As noted by consumer protection, in 2014 the Federal Court considered that a compensation of between 30 and 52 francs was appropriate.