Connie Witteman is furious with Mayor Femke Halsema because she has received two parking fines that she considers unfair. “This way I have to pay 22.50 euros per hour!”
It has sometimes been described as a driving middle finger: the Birò, the compact city car that decadent types drive around, especially in Amsterdam. A few years ago, celebrities were still allowed to park on the sidewalk with this elite car, but nowadays they simply have to park in a parking space and pay parking fees.
Three Biròs
Connie Witteman also drives around in such a car; she has three in total, also for when visitors come over. “I went to Amsterdam South for lunch with a few friends on Friday. Since I still have two Birò city cars in my possession, my friends chased me with it!”
And then? “I saw a parking lot, so we parked all three city cars in one parking spot. When we returned there were two fines 😱. I find this very strange because if I had parked in the same parking spot with one large car, I would have paid 7.50 euros for one hour of parking!”
22.50 euros
So Connie wants to go out with three cars, but only pay parking fees once. “I have those two other city cars especially for my friends, because it is impossible to park anywhere with a normal car. But for that same place I have to pay an extra 7.50 euros per hour twice. Then that one place suddenly costs 22.50 euros per hour!”
Not all parking spaces have white dividing lines, but if there are, Connie believes that she is entitled to the entire space and only has to pay once. “This can’t be true, can it? I would like an explanation from the municipality about how they see this, logical, right?
Remove stripes
Connie’s followers explain to her that you do not rent a parking space, but pay parking tax per means of transport. “I understand the fines. Suppose those two other city cars were not yours but belonged to someone random. Then they would benefit from your paid parking space,” says someone, for example.
Connie then: “Then just remove those stripes because this is really irritating.”
According to Connie, it is in any case absurd that you have to pay the full rate for a small car. “I find that strange too.”
Fragment
Connie is pissed: