BEIRUT: Illegal valet services in Beirut are encroaching on more and more public parking spaces and lack of government regulation is to blame, public and security officials say.

Local residents across Beirut say it is increasingly difficult to find a public or metered parking space, as valet attendants cordon off rows of public parking space while at the same time charging for their services.

One resident, after parking his car legally in a public parking space, was threatened on his return that if he parked there again, “his car would be taken to the south and chopped up.”

Currently, there is no law in Lebanon that regulates the services of valet parking as an industry, making it easier for unlicensed companies to operate without paying taxes or municipality fees, while underpaying their employees.

The human resources manager at VIP Valet, a licensed business, Wissam al-Habr, told The Daily Star that unlicensed businesses randomly set service prices as opposed to charging a varying “tip.” Habr also accused unlicensed companies of illegally occupying public and metered parking places.

On average, a licensed valet parking service handles around 50 cars per weekday, while the number of cars can reach up to 200 per weekend day. With an average of LL5,000 “tip,” the business owner makes around LL13 million on a monthly basis. The government, then, gets LL3,120,000 in income tax.

But it is difficult to recognize the difference between licensed and unlicensed valet businesses when gazing at the cordoned off parking spots, side roads, and even pavements in areas such as Hamra, Achrafieh, Monot Street, and Antelias, where coffee shops, restaurants and pubs compete not only for costumers, but also for parking spots.

The scene in Antelias can only be described as competitive, with valet parking attendants running toward a spot as soon as it becomes empty in order to reserve it, or hurrying to hand over a car to an impatient costumer.

Head of Antelias Municipality Elie Abu Jaoudi said that many have come to the municipality headquarters to complain about parking fines left on their car after a valet has parked it illegally But, the responsibility for such actions lies with the business which hired the valet services, Jaoudi said.

“We usually ask them to take their complaints to the owner of the business since they are the ones hiring specific valet attendants who break the law,” Abu Jaoudi told The Daily Star.

The relationship between businesses and the valet services they engage for their customers is often a casual one, with businesses owners neglecting to ask for the business license. One bar manager in Gemmayzeh, for example, could not recall the name of the person responsible for his bar’s valet services. The manager said the business receives an upfront annual fee from the valet parking business.

“The bar doesn’t pay for such a service,” said the manager. “They actually pay the bar an annual fee.” He declined to specify the amount.

VIP Valet’s Habr says licensed valet companies reserve private parking areas to prevent their employees from parking illegally or on pavements.

“We rent two parking lots after 8 p.m. around Gemmayzeh to avoid paying fines for illegal parking since reserving public spaces with valet signs is unlawful,” he said,

The daily salary for employees who work for an unregistered business is LL 40,000 per day. But those who work for unlicensed businesses make around LL 25,000, valet parking attendants polled by The Daily Star said.

Samir, a 20-year-old student wearing a jacket inscribed with “Valet parking” on the back, works for an unlicensed valet parking business in Gemmayzeh, where Samir and his colleagues provide services for five bars.

“It’s definitely not a [licensed] company, I didn’t even know they had [licensed] companies for that service now,” Samir said while hustling for potential clients.

Samir and his colleagues run around shouting at each other and are always alert for empty parking spots to reserve.

Officials say that the existence of unlicensed valet businesses is mainly attributed to the lack of any law that regulates this growing industry.

“Beirut Municipality has been working on a draft law to regulate valet services, but nothing has been done,” a senior official from the Internal Security Forces told The Daily Star.

As a result, the Association for the Development of Gemmayzeh Municipality, ADG, has been releasing statements and urging the government to propose laws and regulate valet parking services in the area and put an end to their “intolerable behavior.”

“As an organization, we don’t agree with the way [valet attendants] deal with people, either residents or visitors,” George Khalil, director of ADG, said, adding that other municipalities are following suit in urging the government to regulate valet parking.

When asked about their experiences with valet parking attendants, people seemed frustrated about the lack of public parking spaces which forces them to use alternative, more expensive, means to park their cars.

“Valet attendants are just intruders because they hog public spaces preventing me from parking,” John, who is a regular Gemmayzeh bar hopper, said. “It’s my right to park anywhere I want!”

John usually spends more than 30 minutes looking for public parking spot around the area instead of paying LL5,000 on valet parking services.

“Sometimes, [even] if I hand them LL5,000, they give me a dirty look!” John angrily said.

Valet parking service have become popular not only at prestigious restaurants, but also at hospitals, with some charging as much as LL7,000.

Hoda, a housewife, visits the American University Medical Center in Hamra twice a month and says finding a parking spot is always an ordeal.

“I was late for a doctor’s appointment at AUH once and paid LL7,000 for valet parking because I couldn’t find a space,” Hoda said. “There were plastic chairs placed at available spots.”

A solution suggested to Beirut Municipality by ADG was approved but never executed.

“Since the main issue is lack of parking space, we suggested to the government to turn Charles Helou structure into a parking lot,” George said. He added that the association received approval but no action has been taken.