BRIEFS. services

Paid parking will cost 2 cents a minute

Maydée Romero/la prensa

FEES: A sign in front of the health center in Marbella reads, "Fees: 2 cents per minute. We do not offer free parking to our clients."986710

Finding a parking spot during a frenetic weekday is becoming harder and harder.

This is why paid garages are becoming a new alternative for motorists as well as businesses. Although prices fluctuate, paid parking in Panama is charged by the hour, or at times in 15-minute intervals. But motorists complain that they sometimes park for a short time, yet have to pay for the whole hour.

That will soon change.

A government law passed last October will soon come into force. That law fixes the rate for parking at 2 cents a minute, and doesn't allow facilities to round up to the nearest hour.