Casablanca Phases Out Car Guard System in Parking Reform Move

The end of car guards? The authorities of Casablanca have started to suspend the issuance and renewal of car, motorcycle and other vehicle guarding permits, thus following in the footsteps of the authorities of Tangier. An act welcomed by civil society actors. "This decision was long awaited, because the licensing system had turned into a manifest privilege, and a replacement is now hoped for," said a civil society actor in Casablanca.

The chaos of car guards is a phenomenon that prevents the development of parking. According to the vice-president of the Moroccan Consumer Protection University, "the responsibility for this situation lies with the presidents of the local authorities who have established these licenses despite the shortcomings and problems they have caused for vehicle owners." In Agadir, civil society actors are preparing to "submit a petition denouncing the existence of illegitimate fees in Inezgane," he said, noting that "what is happening in Tangier and Casablanca confirms the legitimacy of our demand to abolish the right of local authorities to rent out the public domain."

And to emphasize: "the local authorities have taken such initiatives while the areas concerned did not offer any clear service for the benefit of vehicle owners."