On June 10, deputies from the Alternative faction registered a bill that will allow local authorities to evacuate abandoned cars from the courtyards of residential buildings and public parking lots. The authors of the initiative claim that Moldova still does not have a legislative mechanism for solving this problem, although it has existed for several decades.
According to deputy Olga Ursu, one of the authors of the bill, today neither mayors nor the police have legal grounds for evacuating vehicles, even if they have been standing on public territory for years and have actually turned into scrap metal.
“If you go into the courtyard of a house in Chisinau, Balti, Cahul or any other city, you can see the same picture. A car sits for five or ten years without wheels, without license plates, with broken windows, and oil and fuel seep into the ground where our children play. Such a car takes up a parking space, over which neighbors argue every day. It turns into garbage, a haven for rats and a source of sanitary and environmental danger,” Ursu emphasized.
The bill provides for five stages. First, local authorities will record the condition of the car and draw up an inspection report with photographs and a protocol. The owner will then be notified: a warning will be posted on the vehicle, and if the owner can be identified, a letter will be sent to him.
The owner will then have ten days to remove the vehicle or contact the authorities. If there is no response, the car will be evacuated to a guarded specialized parking lot.
Next, the search for the owner will continue through the police, government registers and advertisements. Only after all these procedures are completed will the car become the property of the city for further sale or use.
“The bona fide owner is protected at every stage. He is officially notified by letter, he can return the car at any stage of the procedure, and any decision of the authorities can be appealed in court. If your car is parked in the yard, it has registration numbers and is in good condition, this law will not affect you in any way,” Ursu explained.
According to the authors of the initiative, the bill will not require additional expenses from the state budget. All costs for evacuation, transportation, storage and examination of the vehicle will be paid by its owner. If he does not show up, the costs will be covered from the proceeds from the sale of the car.
“We are not asking for money from the budget, we are only offering a working legal instrument,” the deputy clarified.
The authors of the project also focused on the environmental side of the issue. They believe that abandoned cars pollute the soil and groundwater due to leakage of oil, antifreeze and fuel. In addition, controlled vehicle recycling complies with European requirements, and metal, glass and other components can be recycled in the future.
“If we are seriously talking about European integration, then it begins, among other things, from our backyards,” Ursu said.
Deputy Hayk Vartanyan said that the initiative does not provide for the creation of new government structures and does not shift the problem to the central authorities.
“This law expands the powers of mayors, not limits them. We give mayors and local councils a real tool to restore order in their territory,” Vartyanyan shared.
Representatives of the faction called on all parliamentary forces to support the bill.
“Cars abandoned in yards have no political affiliation. They are rusting and causing inconvenience to voters of all parties. This is the law for every household and every city in the country,” the deputies added.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel @newsmakerlive. Everything that is important to know right now about Moldova and the region quickly appears there.
Want to support what we do?
You can contribute to quality journalism by supporting us one-time through the E-commerce system from maib bank or by taking out a monthly subscription to Patreon! This way you will become part of changing Moldova for the better. Thanks to your support, we will be able to implement even more new and important projects and remain independent. No matter how you support us, you will receive a small gift. Follow the link to become our partner. It’s not difficult and even pleasant.
