Abandoned cars at Koidula border can now be towed and scrapped due to new law changes
In a bid to tackle the longstanding issue of abandoned vehicles at the Koidula border checkpoint in southeastern Estonia, the state Transport Administration has been granted the authority to tow, sell, or scrap vehicles that have been parked for over 72 hours and beyond the official parking capacity.
Under the new regulations, vehicles that remain unclaimed after owners have been notified will be subject to removal. If the owner fails to appear, their vehicle may be taken to a paid parking lot, and in cases where the vehicle is a wreck, environmentally hazardous, or the owner cannot be identified, it may be scrapped or sold.
The Transport Administration is responsible for enforcing these regulations by monitoring the parking situation at the border, issuing notices, towing vehicles, and managing the potential sale or scrapping of vehicles that remain unclaimed. The new measures will be enforced starting from September, as announced by the Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis.
The Transport Administration has written to the owners of abandoned vehicles when it is possible to identify them. It is important to note that the new measures do not apply to vehicles whose owners have been notified and have responded accordingly.
The problem of abandoned vehicles at the border checkpoint has been ongoing for several years, creating conditions that resemble a used car lot. The Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, stated that cars with Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian license plates can be seen among the abandoned vehicles.
The Police and Border Guard Board, while responsible for border security, is not mentioned as involved in vehicle removal at Koidula. The cost of towing away the vehicles will be covered by the Transport Administration's own budget.
Many vehicles are parked on overspill sites due to a full official parking lot. From next month, the Transport Administration will start dealing with any vehicles not removed, by towing them away, selling them off, or scrapping them. If the owner of a towed vehicle appears, they must pay the parking fee to retrieve their car.
The change in the law is connected with an amendment to the Waste Act, allowing for scrapping or selling of abandoned vehicles. The Transport Administration has not specified the location of the paid car park where towed vehicles will be taken.
In addition, the Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, did not mention any changes in the policy for vehicles with license plates from countries other than Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
The Transport Administration's proactive approach to addressing this issue is a significant step towards maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of the Koidula border checkpoint.
- The Transport Administration, responsible for enforcing the new regulations, will be managing the sale, scrapping, or towing of abandoned vehicles at the Koidula border checkpoint, with the cost being covered by its own budget.
- Started from September, the Transport Administration will be dealing with any vehicles not removed from the overspill sites, by towing them away, selling them off, or scrapping them.
- If the owner of a towed vehicle appears, they must pay the parking fee to retrieve their car, as stated in the new regulations.
- The change in the law is connected with an amendment to the Waste Act, which now allows for scrapping or selling of abandoned vehicles.
- The problem of abandoned vehicles at the border checkpoint, including those with Estonian, Finnish, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Ukrainian license plates, has been a longstanding issue that creates conditions resembling a used car lot, but the Transport Administration's proactive approach is a significant step towards restoring cleanliness and orderliness at the Koidula border checkpoint.
