Ottakring: Initiative Against Parking Rip-Offs Starts

More and more drivers are falling into the trap – now a Viennese model is set to stop the lucrative business model of the "parking scammers."

In Vienna-Ottakring, a legally controversial trick has been causing discontent for months: Anyone who briefly parks their car on an apparently unused private property soon receives a possession disturbance lawsuit – often accompanied by a payment demand of around 400 euros. The initiative JUFINA, led by Stefan Schleicher, together with the Ottakring district leader Stefanie Lamp (SPÖ), has now presented a concrete proposal to curb this practice.

Background of the Scheme

Drivers in Vienna are particularly often affected, mistakenly parking on areas that appear to be public roads or driveways but are actually privately owned. A prominent example is the former gas station at Hasnerstraße 128. Even without clear signage, high demands are threatened here. According to Lamp, 50 to 60 cases have already been reported to the district office – the actual number is likely significantly higher.

Strategy Against Lawsuit Flood

The special aspect of the new idea: possession disturbance lawsuits should not be banned, but made unattractive for abuse. Specifically, JUFINA proposes a "fairness decision," where courts – despite a guilty verdict – can impose the legal costs on the plaintiff. The prerequisite would be that a financial self-interest behind the lawsuit is clearly recognizable. This way, courts could actively counter abusive lawsuits without restricting the rights of honest property owners.

Political Path Predetermined

The proposal has already been submitted to the federal government. District Chairwoman Lamp sees a clear commitment to protection against exploitation in the government program. Whether a change in the law will occur is currently open – but it could already be a topic in the next parliamentary session.

Questions and Answers on Parking Lot Exploitation

How does the exploitation in parking lots work?
Vehicles are deliberately parked in poorly or not at all marked areas, often in front of vacant buildings. Shortly thereafter, a lawsuit with high demands follows, usually without prior warning.

What does the proposal from Ottakring include?
Courts should in the future have the option to impose legal costs on plaintiffs – for example, in cases of apparent exploitation. This would make the business model less attractive.

Who is behind the proposal?
JUFINA AG, a company for litigation financing, and Ottakring's District Chairwoman Stefanie Lamp (SPÖ) jointly developed the initiative.

What are the chances of implementation?
The proposal has been submitted to the federal government. According to District Chairwoman Lamp, the government program shows a willingness to legally tackle such models.

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.