The Union of Municipalities has proposed measures for the removal of damaged, abandoned and abandoned vehicles in public areas for sale.
They said that the analysis they prepared detailed the multiple negative consequences of this phenomenon - from reducing the number of available parking spaces, to disrupting the appearance of settlements and endangering safety, to creating environmental risks and "unfair competition with registered car parks."
"Montenegrin municipalities are intensifying activities to solve the long-standing problem of damaged, abandoned and vehicles left in public areas solely for sale, taking into account the increasing pressure on already limited parking capacities in urban areas," the statement reads.
It was highlighted that a large number of damaged or abandoned vehicles remain on the streets for years, often with damaged bodies, broken windows and possible leakage of oil and other hazardous substances, which disrupts the quality of life of citizens and affects the overall visual identity of the settlement. It was also pointed out that the increasingly frequent practice of leaving vehicles marked "for sale" in public parking lots, where they are formally properly parked, but in practice they occupy public space for commercial purposes, without the obligation to pay rent or taxes, which puts businesses operating in accordance with regulations in an unequal position.
The analysis also includes a review of the existing legal framework, and notes that current regulations do not provide sufficiently clear mechanisms for dealing with cases where vehicles are parked for the purpose of sale or when they are worn out but still have license plates.
"The Union of Municipalities particularly draws attention to the positive solutions adopted in the municipalities of Herceg Novi, Budva and the Royal Capital Cetinje, which have developed a very efficient model for removing abandoned and damaged vehicles from public areas, including setting deadlines for taking over vehicles, the possibility of treating them as waste and establishing clear procedures for determining ownership," the statement reads.
They said that, in order to harmonize practices at the state level and increase the efficiency of local services, it was proposed that all municipalities approach a more precise definition of terms such as "dilapidated vehicle" and "wreck" in their decisions on communal order, as well as to explicitly prohibit leaving vehicles intended for sale in public areas not intended for such a purpose.
The proposal also includes procedures that would accompany the removal of damaged and abandoned vehicles - from identifying the owner and setting a deadline for collection, to cooperation with licensed car scrapyards and the possibility that, if the owner does not respond, the vehicle will be processed as waste in accordance with waste management regulations.
Special emphasis is placed on raising the level of awareness among citizens, in order to ensure their active role in reporting such vehicles. Municipalities are invited to publish clear guidelines and contact information for the relevant services on their websites, and as additional support, the establishment of digital platforms or mobile applications through which citizens could easily report abandoned or broken-down vehicles in their communities is also being considered.
The Association of Municipalities emphasizes that resolving this problem is necessary for improving communal order, preserving the urban environment and rational use of public spaces. They are convinced that the proposed measures will enable more efficient and consistent action by local governments, and contribute to the creation of a more orderly, safer and higher quality living environment for all citizens.
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