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Staff Reporter NEW parking regulations came into force in Calvia's tourist resorts yesterday which allow free parking but limit vehicles to an hour and a half in frontline streets and commercial areas.

According to the Town Hall, this system known as Zona Azul-Tarifa Cero (blue zone-zero tariff) which aims to optimise the use of parking places, will be in force during the working week until 31 October.

Principal areas affected will be the popular resorts of Palma Nova, Magalluf, Santa Ponsa and Paguera where parking near the beaches is at a premium.
Users who park in Zona Azul will have to change their parking space to a minimum distance of 200 metres away, once the time limit is up. The user will have to indicate the start of his parking time on a cardboard clock which he will tuck into the inside section of the windscreen wipers, or on a piece of paper in a visible position on the vehicle.

The cardboard clocks can be acquired free of charge from Calvia Town Hall or from tourist offices.
Local police will not fine those who fail to comply with the new legislation during its introductory period which will run to 3 August inclusive.
The compulsory hours of Blue Zone legislation will run from Monday to Friday from 9.30am-1.30pm and 4-8pm; and Saturdays from 9.30am-1.30pm.
Residents in the areas designated as falling within the Blue Zone restriction, will be able to obtain a card which will permit them to park in their area without a time limit, as and when they are registered as being officially resident in the municipality or on a separate special list of local residents.

Vehicles which are not included in the parking time-limit are motorcycles, bicycles, and mopeds; those which are stationed in specially reserved areas because of the activity for which they are used; taxis when the driver is present and vehicles carrying a handicapped sign where maximum parking is limited to an hour and a half, until 31 October.

Yesterday, many of the vehicles parked in the Blue Zones in Palma Nova and Santa Ponsa did not have their time of arrival displayed and most drivers were confused as to how the system worked.