General parking rules in Riga. Cost of parking in Riga Riga parking near the old town
In connection with the transition to the Euro, some of the machines for paying for municipal parking were converted to payment by credit card. Everything would be fine, but how can we not remember the classic - we wanted the best, it turned out as always.
The site's editors had to learn from their own experience that the payment procedure is very non-trivial and at some points even complicated.
How to pay for parking in Riga with a credit card?
The file attached at the end of the article describes the payment process, and we strongly recommend downloading and printing it (or taking it with you on your phone - PDF format)
We present the algorithm for paying for parking in Riga step by step, indicating the key features:
1. Insert the card into slot “1” in the diagram. Visa, Maestro, MasterCard are accepted.
2. On terminal “2” an invitation to select a language appears. To select the Russian language, you need to press the number “2” (“1” - Latvian, “3” - English).
3. The language is selected, now we dial the PIN code. So far everything is clear and even logical.
4. The Pin code has been entered, it will take some time to connect to the server, wait patiently.
5. Information about the approval of the transaction appears on the screen of the remote control “2”.
ATTENTION - remove the card from the slot.
6. Now all attention is on remote control "3" with display. Please note that despite the fact that Russian is selected, all information on display “3” is presented in Latvian. We are interested in the word “LAIKS” - “Time” - next to it it is shown until what time the parking payment has been selected.
ATTENTION - the buttons on the remote control “3” are touch sensitive, completely uninformative, you can only understand whether the operation was triggered by the display located above the buttons (the buttons beep quietly when triggered, but if there is busy traffic nearby, you may not hear the signal) that’s just it usability, that is, the convenience of presenting information, is below any criticism. (Who could explain why it was impossible to carry out all the manipulations through the remote control "2"?? All the necessary buttons are there, as is the display, and the buttons on it are much more convenient..).
We try to operate only with the right button (in the top row with the triangle) - it adds several minutes of parking for each press. We look carefully at the display of the remote control “3” - we are interested in the time (remember, indicated by the word LAKS) until which we paid for parking.
After paying for the required time, touch the green button with a circle (located below). The button is again a touchscreen, so it’s not easy to immediately understand whether it worked or not. Therefore, we just wait a few seconds (no need to press the other buttons right away). If everything is in order, then the desired receipt confirming payment should appear in slot 4.
It should be left in a visible place under the windshield of the car.
Let us note once again that for some reason the remote control buttons “3” are made to be touch sensitive, so it is possible to understand whether the operation was only possible on the equally indistinct display. Therefore, take your time, even with known skills, the payment procedure took us about thirty seconds.
However, we are sure that everything will work out for you. Finally, general information about the key points of parking in Riga.
How much does parking cost in Riga?
Street parking in the city center is paid, there are five zones with different tariffs.
Zone tariffs:
zone A* first hour – 1.99 Eur, each next – 2.85 Eur
zone B first hour – 1.42 Eur, each next – 1.2.28 Eur
zone C first hour – 1.14 Eur, each next – 1.71 Eur
zone D first hour – 0.85 Eur, each next – 1.14 Eur
zone R** first hour – 4.27 Eur, each next – 7.11 Eur
The cost of parking a car in Vecaki from January 1, 2014 will be 1.40 euros for the entire period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
* The cost of zones decreases in alphabetical order (A - more expensive, located closer to the center, and so on).
** Zone R – Old Town only.
When do you not have to pay for parking in paid parking lots in Riga?
Zone R (Old Riga) – parking must always be paid.
For other zones, parking is paid -
On weekdays - from 8:00 to 20:00
On Saturdays - from 9:00 to 17:00
At other times (including Sundays) you do not need to pay for parking
Last modified 09/24/2018
Looking ahead, I want to say that I really liked Riga (). There is a desire to come back here again and take a leisurely walk around the Old Town, and when you get tired, sit in a nice cafe, watching the measured life of Latvians. My only regret is that we didn’t have enough time to go to Jurmala. Well, as they say, there is a reason to come back and later supplement the article with impressions about resort town Latvia.
Let's start as usual with parking. If you travel by car, then this information will come in handy. Riga is full of paid parking lots.
The airport is 3 minutes by car. You need to write a letter in advance and reserve a place. They take you to the airport in a minivan and meet you from the airport.
The parking lot is located in a closed area with video cameras. As I understand it, the owners live there, i.e. they have landscaped their own site and rent out parking spaces.
Cost per day 2.5 euros.
Parking address: Kantora iela 124, Mārupe, Mārupes novads, LV-2167, Latvia
I'm happy with the parking lot and will use it if necessary.
(Visited 9,742 times, 1 visits today)
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Some owners of cars with foreign registration numbers have been fined dozens and hundreds of times in Riga for violating parking rules, most of them do not even think about paying the fines issued, the Delfi portal writes, citing representatives of the municipal police.
In total, last year the Riga police issued 3,624 protocols for cars with non-Latvian license plates for violations of parking rules, which is 7.5% of the total number. However, in reality there are much fewer violators than there are protocols.
According to municipal police, they already know many of the violators well by sight, and, although there are no exact statistics, it seems that in Riga there are cars with foreign license plates, the owners of which have been fined 100-250 times. At the same time, the Riga municipal police note that they, unlike the police of other countries, never ignore cars with foreign license plates and in any case issue a fine.
The fine for violating parking rules in Riga is 30-40 euros (55 for parking in a space for disabled people without having the right to do so). According to Delfi calculations, this means that in total “foreigners” had to pay the city from 108 to 150 thousand euros last year. However, the Riga municipal police do not know whether they paid. And they can only rely on the conscience of car owners, because there is no mechanism yet that would force owners of cars with foreign registration numbers to pay fines for improper parking.
The State Police confirmed this to Delfi, but noted that right now they are developing a mechanism that would allow such fines to be “delivered” at the place of registration to everyone, even the owners of “foreign cars.” For several years, there was a similar problem with fines for speeding, which were detected by radar. It was resolved long ago and today the European owner is fined in any case, regardless of the country of registration of his car’s license plates.
In the meantime, the only effective mechanism for “working” with violators with foreign license plates is to evacuate the vehicle. This is possible in three cases:
- If the intruder is standing where it is not allowed and is impeding traffic, he can be evacuated immediately;
- If a fine is issued for illegal parking and eight hours later the car is still parked, it can also be towed;
- If a violator has already been caught once in a parking lot in spaces for the disabled and is caught again within a year, he can be immediately evacuated.
During evacuation, the car is taken to an impound lot, from where it can only be picked up by paying all associated fines and expenses - regardless of whether registration numbers what country it is installed on.
Length of the road network common use Latvia is 73.592 km. Of these, 20.131 km are paved.
Toll roads
There are no tolls for using roads in Latvia.
Areas with special payment
Only entry into the resort area of Jurmala is subject to payment. Entry fees apply from April 1st to September 30th. The rest of the time - from October 1 to March 31 - entry to Jurmala is free.
Tariffs for entry into the resort area of Jurmala for 2019:
During the validity period of the pass, the number of entries is not limited. Passes are controlled using video cameras. The fine for entering without a pass is €50.
The pass can be purchased online at jurmala.lv.
Parking in Riga
Almost all parking in the center of Riga is paid. Car parks RP SIA Rigas satiksme - car park opening hours are from 08:00 to 20:00, on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00. In zone R (Vecriga) opening hours are from 06:00 to 24:00 daily. At other times, as well as on Sundays and holidays, the parking lots can be used free of charge.
The cost of parking in Riga varies depending on the zone in which it is located.
The cost of parking a car in Vecaki is € 2.00 for the entire period from 08:00 to 20:00 (from May 1 to September 30).
Payment for parking
You can pay for parking at parking meters or via SMS.
When paying at parking meters, a receipt for using a paid parking lot must be placed in a visible place - on the left side of the front panel of the vehicle so that the controller has the opportunity to verify the presence and contents of this document: payment information, validity period and document number must be visible .
The maximum time for free use of a paid parking lot during operation is 5 minutes. The maximum allowed time for free use of a paid parking lot after the end of the payment period is 15 minutes.
More information about using parking lots in Riga - Rigas satiksme
Buy a road map of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia from the Amazon online store with delivery .
Basic traffic rules in Latvia
Speed Limit
Standard speed limits in Latvia (unless otherwise indicated on signs).
Cars and motorcycles:- in a populated area - 50 km/h
- outside the populated area - 90 km/h
- on highway- 110 km/h
- in a populated area - 50 km/h
- outside the populated area - 80 km/h
- on the road - 90 km/h
The maximum speed in a residential area is 20 km/h.
Alcohol
Maximum permissible blood alcohol level 0.5 ‰.
If the blood alcohol level is more than 0.5 ‰ and less than 1.0 ‰, then the fine will be from € 430 to 640 and deprivation of rights for one year.
If the blood alcohol level is more than 1.0 ‰ and less than 1.5 ‰, then the fine will be from € 850 to 1,200, deprivation of rights for two years and administrative arrest from 5 to 10 days.
If the blood alcohol level is more than 1.5 ‰, then the fine will be from € 1,200 to 1,400, deprivation of rights for four years and administrative arrest from 10 to 15 days. The same penalty is imposed in case of refusal to test for the presence of alcohol.
In the case of the presence of narcotic drugs or psychotropic, toxic or other intoxicating substances in the human body, the fine will be from € 1,200 to 1,400, deprivation of rights for four years and administrative arrest from 10 to 15 days.
For drivers whose driving experience does not exceed 2 years, the maximum permissible level 0.2 ‰.
If the blood alcohol level of such drivers is more than 0.2 ‰ and less than 0.5 ‰, then the fine will be from € 210 to 430 and deprivation of rights for up to six months.
Low beam
Dipped beam is required 24 hours a day all year round. The fine for driving without low beams in the daytime is € 7.
For driving without low beams at night or in poor visibility conditions, the fine is € 40.
Transportation of children
When transporting children whose height does not exceed 150 cm, Vehicle If equipped with seat belts, special chairs or stands must be installed that are appropriate for the age and weight of the child.
Violation of this rule will result in a fine ranging from €30 to €70.
Seat belts
Using seat belts Necessarily for front and rear passengers.
Fine - from € 30 to 70 or warning.
Talking on the phone
While driving a vehicle, it is prohibited to use a phone, tablet or other mobile device that is not equipped with a technical capability that allows hands-free negotiations.
Fine - from € 25 to 100.
Tinting
The degree of light transmission of the windshield must be at least 75%, and the front side windows must be at least 70%.
Driving a vehicle with windows installed whose light transmission does not meet legal requirements is punishable by a fine of € 85.
Fines
Fines should not be paid directly to the police officer at the scene of the violation. Fines are paid within 30 days, or an appeal is filed.
The appeal must be filed within 10 working days from the date of notification of the imposition of an administrative penalty.
Table of fines for violating traffic rules in Latvia (Euro):| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Failure to comply with a lawful request of a police officer to stop a vehicle | € 15 |
| Turning around on bridges and overpasses, overpasses, as well as at pedestrian crossings | € 30 |
| Driving in a lane reserved for public passenger transport | € 40 |
| Driving on the side of the road | € 40 |
| U-turn at railway crossings | € 55 |
| Driving on bicycle or pedestrian paths or sidewalks | € 55 |
| Failure to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front | € 25 - 140 |
| Stopping on sidewalks, railway crossings or in places where it is prohibited | € 40 |
| Driver's side windshield wipers do not operate during rain or snow | € 30 |
| Overtaking at level crossings, footpaths and tunnels | € 55 |
| Driving to an intersection or crossing a roadway in the event of a traffic jam that has forced the driver to stop, creating an obstacle for the vehicle to move in the transverse direction | € 30 |
| Driving in the opposite direction on a one-way road | € 55 |
| Entering the lane intended for oncoming traffic when overtaking | € 55 |
| Turning left or making a U-turn in violation of the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings | € 30 |
| No hazard warning lights during emergency stops or for disembarking passengers during daylight hours | € 30 |
| No hazard warning lights during emergency stops or for disembarking passengers at night or in poor visibility conditions | € 40 |
| Aggressive driving | € 70 - 280 |
Fines for speeding in Latvia
Fines for speeding in populated areas and outside of them in Latvia differ.
For motorcycles and cars:In case of speeding up to 20 km/h, a warning may be issued instead of a fine.
In case of speeding over 50 km/h, in addition to the fine, there is also deprivation driver's license from 3 to 6 months.
For passenger cars with a trailer:| Over speed | ||
|---|---|---|
| up to 10 km/h | € 10 or warning |
€ 10 or warning |
| from 11 km/h to 20 km/h | € 80 | € 40 |
| from 21 km/h to 30 km/h | € 160 | € 80 |
| from 31 km/h to 40 km/h | € 320 | € 160 |
| from 41 km/h to 50 km/h | € 480 - 620 | € 320 - 440 |
| from 51 km/h to 60 km/h | € 700 - 880 | € 480 - 640 |
| over 60 km/h | € 1,040 - 1,400 | € 720 - 960 |
In case of speeding over 50 km/h, in addition to the fine, there is also deprivation of a driver’s license from 6 months to 2 years.
Helpful information
Petrol
1.20 1.25 1.14 0.59 as of 02/14/2020
Unleaded gasoline (95 and 98) and diesel fuel are available in Latvia. Gas filling stations (LPG) are available.
Average prices for all types of fuel according to Statoil data by state as of 02/14/2020 :
Latvia
- Bezsvina 95 - € 1.197
- Bezsvina 98 - € 1.252
- Dizelis - € 1.137
- Autogāze - € 0.591
Emergency numbers
- European emergency number - 112
- Police - 110
- Ambulance - 113
- LAMB roadside assistance and tow truck services – 1888
Required equipment
Equipment that necessary have in your car:
- Warning triangle
- Car first aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Reflective vest- mandatory when exiting a car stopped on the roadway or side of the road at night or in poor visibility conditions
Winter equipment
Winter tires
The use of winter tires in Latvia is mandatory for vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons from December 1 to March 1. The minimum tread depth is 3 mm. Failure to do so will result in a fine of €30.
Studded tires
Anti-skid chains
Snow chains can be used in case of snow and ice.
If the vehicle does not have an emergency sign, a first aid kit or a fire extinguisher - a warning or a fine of € 7.
The use of radar detectors is prohibited. If discovered, a fine of €55 and confiscation of the device itself.
