Across from the residence sits a garage service where vehicles pile up and many stay for months. The street fills with old, unused cars that block the curb and hamper movement. Some are stripped for parts, leaving skeletal frames that linger and decay in plain sight. Is there a practical path to resolve this ongoing disruption?
Arseny, Moscow
The head of the Main Directorate of Road Safety within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Lieutenant General of Police Mikhail Chernikov, responds to reader questions. |
Question: When do vehicles count as obstacles to traffic, and what legal steps can a resident take to address a street cluttered with stationary cars? If a vehicle indisputably impedes the passage of other vehicles, the owner’s actions may constitute an administrative offense under Part 4 (in Moscow and St. Petersburg – Part 6) of Article 12.19 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. In such cases, according to Part 1 of Article 27.13, the vehicle can be detained and moved to a specialized parking facility, where it must remain until the issue causing the detention is resolved. The intervention process requires contacting the relevant territorial division of the State Traffic Inspectorate in order to initiate enforcement steps.
If the vehicle is not parked illegally but is simply left, with no violation of stopping or parking rules, it may still be considered abandoned if it remains unattended and unused. In these circumstances, authorities may remove it to a designated storage location under applicable regulations. The specific procedure varies by region; in Moscow, for example, the process is governed by a government decree that outlines how abandoned, including decommissioned, vehicles are identified, relocated, stored temporarily, and disposed of within the city. These activities are carried out by municipal authorities—typically the local district prefecture or equivalent administrative body responsible for enforcing parking and street maintenance rules.
Participating in the community discussion about vehicle policy
Readers are invited to engage in the ongoing conversation about road safety and urban vehicle management. The goal is to balance the needs of residents, traffic flow, and municipal responsibilities, ensuring streets remain safe and accessible for everyone. Community input can influence how quickly and fairly enforcement actions are carried out and how resources are allocated to manage abandoned or derelict vehicles in a timely manner.
Note: The enforcement landscape described above reflects the framework in Moscow and is intended to provide a general understanding of how authorities approach obstructive vehicles. Local regulations and procedures can change, so residents should consult their district administration or the corresponding inspectorate to obtain current guidance specific to their area.
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