Mupol’s Head: Parking hooligans are increasing, but it is not possible to fight them

The head of the Municipal Police (Mupol) in Estonia, Айвар Тоомпере, stated that instances of improper parking are increasing, but effective action remains challenging. It is unclear whether the number of violations has genuinely risen or if increased public awareness is driving more reports. Despite a relatively stable number of offenders over the past several years, the volume of calls and notifications regarding parking issues has increased.

Mupol primarily addresses violations involving parking or stopping on sidewalks. However, the police lack the authority to penalize these actions due to legislative limitations. Between 2022 and 2021, over 30,000 warning tickets were issued, with approximately one-third related to sidewalk parking, one-third to ignoring traffic signs, and one-third to parking in green zones.

The difficulty stems from the reactive nature of the enforcement process. Patrols encounter violations sporadically, and by the time they arrive, the offending vehicle is often already gone. Fines range from €20 for improper parking to €40 for dangerous or obstructing parking.

Тоомпере explained that actions such as loading or unloading goods, dropping off or picking up passengers, or delivering items – like pianos or food orders – are considered “stops” and are subject to regulation. He cited an example of a minibus unloading a piano onto a high floor, which constitutes a temporary parking violation. Mupol’s patrols rely on responding to calls and cannot consistently monitor problematic areas due to resource constraints.

Temporary measures, such as wooden barriers near the zoo, have been implemented, but are not a comprehensive solution. The police cannot force officers to dedicate extended periods to specific locations. Ultimately, Тоомпере emphasized that changes in driver behavior are crucial, urging drivers to adhere to traffic regulations to prevent endangering others.

Topics: #mupol #head #parking