In many Russian cities, heavy snowfall covered streets while road-clearing crews worked diligently to keep routes passable. Yet parked cars often blocked the way, complicating the snow removal process. There are moments when a vehicle is relocated onto a tow truck to clear the blockage and reopen a lane for traffic.
Lawyer Lev Voropaev argues that towing a car in these situations can be illegal under certain conditions.
“A vehicle can be moved only if it blocks the flow of other vehicles,” he notes. “Public utilities organizations generally have to show clear evidence that the car hinders traffic. Since that proof is rarely straightforward, such evacuations aren’t usually provided for by law, and these scenarios remain uncommon.”
Should a car be moved under disputed circumstances, the owner is advised to offer compensation to the towing company. If the owner refuses, a court action might follow, though the potential damages are typically modest, often capped around a thousand rubles for non-material harm.
At the same time, there are clear cases where a vehicle can be towed even when it isn’t technically blocking traffic. For example, a car parked beyond the second row or at a pedestrian crossing may be impounded, as well as spots marked with a sign indicating towing operations.
Behind the Wheel — Grand Prix Vote
Participants are invited to cast their vote in the Behind the Wheel Grand Prix to help name the year’s top car innovations.
As a token of appreciation for taking part, three prizes will be raffled among respondents who complete the survey. The sweepstakes is open to everyone who finishes the questionnaire before late February 2023.