Due to illegal parking, the services of the Capital City issue an average of 2.000 misdemeanor orders per month. Of this, half refers to parking on green and public areas, and the other half to illegal parking that endangers the flow of traffic.
This is what the Administration for Inspection Affairs (UIP) of the Capital City and the Podgorica Communal Police told "Vijesta".
Of the number of warrants issued, the UIP collects 70 to 80 percent, while the municipal police collects half of the misdemeanor warrants issued.
Both of them, in the event that citizens do not pay the fine, apply the forced collection mechanism, in such a way that the employer is sent an order, on the basis of which the amount of the fine is deducted from the employee's salary.
For obstructing traffic, a fine of up to 200 euros
From the UIP of the Capital City, headed by the Acting Director Branko Kovačević, told "Vijesti" that they issue an average of 1.100 misdemeanor orders for illegal parking during the month.
The most problematic areas, as they said, are Stanko Dragojevića Boulevard, Ivan Crnojevića Boulevard, Ulica slobode, Ulica Vučedolska, Ulica 19. decembra and Dr. Ljubomir Rašovića.
They explained that they act according to Article 60 of the Law on Road Traffic Safety. According to that regulation, their inspectors issue orders to drivers "who park or stop their vehicle at a pedestrian crossing and at the crossing of a bicycle path over the roadway, as well as at a distance of less than five meters from these crossings, in a tunnel, in an underpass, in a gallery, on a bridge, on an overpass, in a place where it would obscure a traffic sign, on a bicycle path, i.e. lane"....
According to the Law on Traffic Safety, a fine of 60 to 200 euros will be imposed on a driver who stops or parks a vehicle in a place where it endangers the safety of other road users or is a hindrance to the normal flow of traffic or the movement of pedestrians...
As a priority in sanctioning illegally parked vehicles, they list illegally parked vehicles that prevent pregnant women and children from walking on the sidewalk.
z UIP of the Capital City add that they regularly act on telephone and written reports from citizens on all grounds.
"The efforts made by the city administration are not enough if the citizens do not contribute, by using the city roads more conscientiously", they told "Vijesta".
The UIP from Podgorica added that "the city administration is working on planning and securing new parking spaces, building underground and above-ground garages, as well as promoting alternative modes of transportation and the use of city buses."
Parking is not allowed on gravel or dirt
Due to illegal parking on green and public areas, municipal police officers in Podgorica issue an average of over 1.000 misdemeanor warrants per month. Of that, as they said, they collect over 50 percent, which is "significantly above the average collection of monetary claims based on misdemeanor orders issued by other public law bodies".
"Following the state of communal discipline in the capital, the problem of illegal parking of vehicles on green and other public areas has been clearly differentiated as one of the most obvious forms of violation of communal order," said the service.
As explained by the communal police, the provisions of the Law on communal activities prescribe a single fine for the offense of parking on green and other public areas, which are not intended for this and if this is not allowed by a special regulation. The amount of the fine is 100 euros.
"According to the current legal regulations, due to the protection of public areas, parking is prohibited, not only on green areas, but also on other public areas (dirt, gravel, etc.) that are not intended for that, unless it is allowed by a special regulation", they state in the answer and add that citizens most often deny such a violation with the explanation that they did not park on a green public area.
90.000 parking spaces for 6.303 vehicles
According to data from the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) from 2023, about 90 vehicles were registered in Podgorica. According to data from the Program for the Performance of Communal Activities for this year, Podgorica has 6.303 parking spaces.
"Parking Service" told "Vijesta" that they are "continuously working on finding new locations for parking lots and garages in order to better regulate traffic at rest, as well as introducing modern technologies in order to better utilize existing capacities."
As they said from that company, the main project for the underground garage under Božana Vučinić Square has been completed and that there will be 360 parking spaces at that location. They added that the construction of an underground garage in Balšića Street is planned, and that planning documentation is being prepared.
"Work is underway on the arrangement of the temporary parking lot next to the eastern tribune of the City Stadium, which will provide 90 parking spaces in the central city zone," they stated in their response to "Vijesta".
Acting Secretary for Transport, Ninoslav Kaluđerović, at the beginning of the year he also said that the parking space will be deleted from Ulica Kralja Nikola.
"There are three or four plots of land in the vicinity that are owned by the Capital City. We plan to prepare that land for parking. With the new parking spaces, we will relieve traffic congestion, and citizens will get a parking space. Those parking spaces will not be charged for," said Kaluđerović at the time.
According to the Rulebook on the detailed content and form of the planning document, land use criteria, elements of urban regulation and unique graphic symbols from 2010, "needs for parking spaces are assessed depending on the purpose of the planned areas and the state of the public transport system, taking into account the possibilities of space".
So, among other things, the norm for residential parking is to design 1.000 parking spaces per 15 square meters, 30 for colleges, 60 for shops...
The "Parking Service" appealed to citizens "to use alternative means of transportation, such as public transportation and bicycles, as well as to respect traffic regulations, in order to contribute to greater safety and better regulation of traffic at rest."
New prices due to higher costs
The "Parking service" from Podgorica also said that, due to the increase in costs, there are plans to change the price list for parking services.
At the same time, as they said, the new price list "will be aimed at better utilization of existing capacities and stimulation of short-term parking in the central city zone".
"The prices for using parking services in general parking lots have not changed since 2020. According to the Law on communal activities and the Decision on public parking lots on the territory of the capital, the consent to the Price List of services is given by the Assembly of the Capital City, so that the citizens will be informed in a timely manner", said the company "Parking Servis".
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