Less hire cars parked in the streets of Palma

SINCE the start of the tourist season, the car hire companies operating in Palma have been obliged, when hiring out a car, to give a ticket to all their clients to put on the dashboard of the car permitting them to park in the streets of Palma without being fined by the local police. This measure, which on its introduction caused a backlash from the car rental sector as it prevents them from parking their unhired cars in the street, was disputed in court by the hire companies. However, the court finally ruled in favour of Palma council. In the opinion of the councillor for Transit and Transport, Carlos Veramendi, “this measure has been a success as it has caused the disappearance of cars which are not hired out from the streets of Palma, specifically from the Paseo Maritimo and the Playa de Palma. This was the aim of the introduction of this ticket, and demonstrates that the decision made by the council was the right one and has been effective”. At the moment a fleet of 25'000 hire cars exists in Palma, of which 20'000 are controlled by rental companies within Palma. Cars hired from outside of Palma also need this ticket to park in the street in Palma.