A decision has been made to tow illegally parked vehicles instead of resuming the issuance of parking violation stickers, police said yesterday.
An explanatory message was sent to the media on Sunday night after an earlier police press release was misreported.
“The provisions referred to in the press statement are provisions on towing and fining offenders in circumstances except when parking violation stickers are issued,” police said in a brief note.
In the statement, police warned of action with effect on Thursday against illegally parked vehicles under Article 7(c) of the land transport law and Section 14(b) of the land vehicle parking regulations.
Article 7(c) states that the Transport Ministry or an authority designated by the ministry has the power to deduct points from the license of the owner of an illegally parked vehicle in addition to issuing parking violation stickers.
The law also authorized police to tow illegally parked vehicles.
According to Section 14(b) of the parking rules, except in cases where parking violation stickers are issued, drivers who park illegally could be fined MVR 750. In its statement, the police assured that the provision would be enforced.
The police announcement about starting to fine illegally parked vehicles next week comes in spite of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s campaign pledge to not impose fines without developing parking space. During the campaign, Muizzu criticized the former government for slapping fines without providing parking spaces in Male'.
