Expired Reserved Parking Spaces Cause Disputes in Asunción

A recurring issue in the streets of Asunción, Paraguay, is causing friction among residents and drivers: the persistent use of expired reserved parking spaces. Despite signs indicating that reservations were valid only until December 31, 2025, some property owners continue to treat these spots as their private domain, leading to disputes.

Vicente Capello, the Director of Traffic for the Municipality of Asunción, has clarified the city's official stance. He emphasized that the validity of a reserved parking space is not determined by the signage alone but by a current annual resolution. Once this resolution expires, the space automatically reverts to public use, regardless of whether the old sign remains in place.

The municipality is actively working to address the situation by removing outdated signs and installing new ones for renewed reservations. Capello explained that while there is a process for renewal, which property owners can initiate as early as October for the following year, the reservation is only legally binding once the new resolution is approved and the signage is updated. Until then, any space with an expired reservation is fair game for public use.

This clarification aims to resolve the ongoing conflicts and ensure that public parking spaces are utilized according to current regulations. Drivers are advised that if a reserved parking sign is not backed by a current resolution, the space can be used freely, even if a property owner claims their renewal is still pending.