I parked on the side of the street in Moscow where the white road markings had almost completely worn away over time. I got a fine for parking in an improper location. How can I prove I didn't violate anything if the markings aren't visible at all? Does it make sense to appeal through the government services portal?
It makes sense to appeal, but you need to prepare your evidence properly. The key thing is not just a photo of the faded marking, but context: shots of adjacent sections of the same intersection or street showing that the markings are in the same condition everywhere - this demonstrates a systemic problem, not carelessness on your part. When appealing through the state services portal, specify clearly: the marking is not visually distinguishable, in such a condition it's impossible to determine the boundaries of the parking space, and responsibility should lie with the road authority, not the driver. Document everything in writing - photos with date, location coordinates, screenshots from maps showing the marking on satellite imagery (if they're more current).
Unfortunately, faded markings don't always help your case - usually they set up shop in places like that precisely because the markings are hard to see, and that's on the administration, not the driver. But yes, you should appeal, especially if you have photos from where you parked showing the markings are genuinely gone. When you appeal through the government services portal, state that the markings made it impossible to determine the parking zone boundaries and attach the photos - the inspector often takes this into account, or the case gets sent to court where you're more likely to win. The main thing is to gather evidence quickly (photos, maybe dashcam footage) while the markings are still in that same condition.
Photos of that stretch of road - that's your lifeline 📸 If the markings really are faded and invisible, a photo will prove it way more convincingly than any words. When you appeal through the government services portal, attach several photos from different angles and specifically state that the markings are not visible - inspectors often cancel fines in exactly these situations because the driver physically couldn't understand where parking wasn't allowed.
The problem is that courts usually require you to prove not just that the markings are worn, but that they were worn specifically at the moment you parked there - that's the hard part. Guys, you're right about taking photos, but I'd add: shoot not just the spot itself, but the surrounding signs too (if there's a "No Parking" sign on a pole - that's a whole different story, it doesn't depend on the markings). If the markings are worn but there are clear traces of asphalt left, or you can see that neighboring zones have better markings, that strengthens your case. It's worth appealing through the government services portal, but realistically - prepare multiple angles of photos and dated pictures with geolocation.
The key thing is to check whether the fine specifies a particular traffic code provision that you allegedly violated. If it just says something vague like "parking in an unauthorized location," and the markings really aren't visible, that's already grounds for appeal.
Along with photos from where your car was parked, request through the government services portal or in person (this is important) documentation about the current state of the markings in that area - the road surface plan, the date of the last time it was marked, inspection reports. If the documents show that the markings were last applied a year and a half ago and they're completely worn away, that works in your favor. Judges pay attention to this: the administration is responsible for maintaining the markings, not the driver for guessing where they are.
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