In Moscow, a growing concern among residents concerns cars parked on grassy areas. Local authorities have highlighted that parking on lawns can trigger allergic reactions due to accumulated dust, pollen, and debris kicked up by passing vehicles. City officials, including Deputy Mayor Maxim Liksutov, have spoken to the public about the health and safety implications of this practice.
During the summer, inspectors from the Moscow Administrative Department identified more than 13,000 instances of vehicles parked on grass. The presence of cars on the lawns was linked to dirt being spread onto residential streets, potentially aggravating allergies and respiratory issues for nearby residents. The deputy mayor underscored that efforts to keep public spaces clean and safe are ongoing, and enforcement measures are in place to address this issue.
Deputy Mayor Liksutov also noted that penalties apply regardless of how a vehicle comes to rest on a grassy area. If a driver parks with even a single wheel on the turf, a fine can be issued under traffic and municipal regulations. This rule aims to deter drivers from using green spaces as impromptu parking lots and to preserve the environment for pedestrians and families who use these areas for recreation.
Seasonal trends show a decline in lawn parking. In the height of summer, the frequency of lawn parking was down by about 30 percent compared with the same period the previous year, when approximately 19,500 such incidents were recorded. Officials attribute the drop to intensified enforcement, greater public awareness, and a broader commitment to maintaining urban green spaces for community use.
Earlier reports indicated that since the start of the year, Moscow had directed more than 1,000 vehicles without license plates to specialized police parking facilities for inspection. The Ministry of Transport notes that certain vehicle brands appeared more frequently in these inspections. Mercedes, Toyota, Zeekr, and BMWs accounted for a notable portion of cases, with roughly 10 percent of the incidents involving BMWs. Vehicles were moved to verification sites on the grounds that they might be linked to criminal activity or could be stolen, prompting authorities to conduct thorough checks before allowing returns to the street.
There have been other incidents reflecting the challenges of maintaining urban infrastructure in the capital. Earlier this year, vandalism was captured on video when a road sign was stolen, underscoring the ongoing concerns about safety and the integrity of public assets. City leadership has stressed that addressing such incidents requires coordinated action from traffic police, municipal services, and community vigilance to protect public property and keep streets safe for all residents.