Parking - big headache for Moscow drivers

In a big, fast, 24/7 city, everyone is looking for a place to fit into. A flat, a job, a social life – the demand is high. But the space most sought after in Moscow is the one where you can park your car.

There are an estimated 6 million vehicles in the Russian capital – and there is just not enough space for all of them. Cars left by the pavement is a common sight – as well as on the pavement, on zebra crossings, and pretty much anywhere a car can fit.

The long arm of the law

But the long arm of the law is finally reaching out for them. If you come out in time – you can save your vehicle from being towed. But most drivers come out to find an empty space where their car once stood. It’s a fast procedure – stickers, paperwork, loading the car onto the tow-truck, and enter the information into the database. And that's it – off goes your car.

On average, 600 cars get towed daily in the capital, and that number is expected to double by 2008.

The Moscow City towing service has an information phone number, and that is something every driver needs to know. Your call comes in, and an operator tells you where to get the paperwork and your vehicle.

The city authorities are trying to centralise the work of traffic police and towers.

Every driver struggling through the red tape gets a great welcome from his fellow sufferers.

Once you know, where to go its relatively simple. Or so it would appear. People get to stand in the queue for hours. And even though by some point everyone in the crowd has more or less made friends, it's still a tiresome wait.

From the road traffic police, it’s to the car pound. They work 24 hours a day. Which means you hand over your papers and get your vehicle back, along with a 100 rouble – or around $US 4 – fine.

Such a seemingly simple procedure will take at least 4 or 5 hours of your day. Could it be time better spent looking for a legitimate space to park?