Recently, the Moscow region’s legislative body advanced a measure in its first reading that would empower regional authorities to remove illegally parked vehicles, with the actual enforcement carried out by officials of the region rather than solely by traffic police. The proposal specifies that when a parking sign is paired with an additional notice indicating that a tow operation is in progress, the decision to relocate a vehicle can be made by a regional government employee. This change is framed as an augmentation of the existing powers of traffic police rather than a replacement, reinforcing a layered approach to enforce parking violations.
Historically, Moscow and St. Petersburg had already established a similar authority in 2013, a move cited by regional lawmakers to justify the current discussion. The new measure is positioned as a practical response to the ongoing challenge of illegally parked cars that obstruct critical services and disrupt urban operations. In the regional context, advocates argue that the issue is not merely cosmetic but has tangible consequences for public safety and municipal efficiency.
A representative from the Moscow regional Duma explained that vehicles parked with violations can impede the work of ambulances, firefighting units, and waste collection services. According to this spokesman, the volume of vehicles requiring removal runs into several thousand daily, and traffic police alone cannot manage the entire workload. The proposed policy aims to close this gap by granting the regional administration a formal role in the towing process, thereby accelerating clearance and reducing disruption for emergency responders and city services.
The official stressed that the intention is not to fund the regional budget through fines or fees, but to create a clear and efficient procedure for moving cars in violation. The plan includes establishing standardized protocols for identifying illegally parked vehicles, coordinating with towing operators, and documenting the actions taken to ensure accountability. Deputies were assured that the regional authorities would proceed cautiously, with an emphasis on transparency and fairness, and that the approach could serve as a model for other jurisdictions if it proves effective in practice.
Beyond the immediate policy mechanics, proponents see a broader potential benefit: a unified framework that could be adopted by neighboring regions to streamline enforcement and protect essential urban functions. The discussion hints at a possible expansion of this practice to other subjects of the federation, signaling an interest in harmonizing parking enforcement standards across multiple regions while preserving the balance between municipal administration and traffic policing. Critics, meanwhile, call for careful scrutiny of how the program would be implemented, including safeguards to prevent abuse and to ensure that due process is respected for vehicle owners who dispute the move. The debate remains ongoing, with stakeholders promising ongoing oversight and evaluation as the proposed regime moves through subsequent readings and potential amendments.