Company for a specific purpose “Public parking” in Bitola, as a traffic police, began to punish drivers for improperly parking fines of 1,000 denars. Although parked on pedestrian line, the green area or in places that are not part of the parking zone, wheel jaws and warnings to pay fines were put on vehicles in Bitola yesterday. Bitola citizens, who were unpleasantly surprised, complained to local media, wondering why “Public parking” in Bitola is acting in a role of police. This fining is applied from 10th of March.
For “Terra TV”, Bitola citizen Ivan Pitoshka says that he left the car in front of clinical hospital in Bitola, the place where there is no marked parking or parking ban, but, when he returned, the car’s wheels has been blocked.
– People from “Public parking”, who were still at the scene, told me that the fine is 1,000 denars. In order to pay the fine, they gave me a receipt that says that for a lost ticket, I have to pay a fine of twice the amount of 500 denars. I have neither lost ticket nor something similar. This is their alibi – says Pitoshka.
In the statement of “Public parking” states that “in accordance with the decision to establish tariff rates by zones to organize zone parking, adopted by the Council of the Municipality of Bitola on 21st of June 2012, it is projected the removal of illegally parked or stopped vehicles to be carried out by placing a mechanical means for blocking or lifting the vehicle. This decision comes into force on the day of adoption and it was published in the Official Gazette of the Municipality of Bitola. Company for a specific purpose “Public parking”, as organizer of parking, and after consultation with the Department of Urban Planning, public works and environmental protection in the Municipality of Bitola decided to apply this empowerment in practice in this manner as of 10th of March 2015″.
For META, spokeswoman of Bitola Natasha Popovska says that they are familiar with the case and will further explain, as well as the question where the money will go from the fines issued by “Public parking” – in the budget of the municipality or the concessionaire of parking lots.
– The whole procedure is stopped to further establish the responsibilities – says Popovska.
Bitola police, however, are adamant that, in accordance with the Law on traffic safety, no one but the police is authorized to issue fines for traffic offenses.
– The law does not read that someone else can issue fines despite our responsibilities. Also, we, from the Municipality, have not received any official act that there is such an agreement between them and “Public parking” – said spokeswoman of DOI Bitola Magdalena Dimitrovska for META.
According to her, so far none of the concerned citizens reported to the police that “Public parking” demands drivers to pay a fine of 1,000 denars for improperly parking and tells them to turn to DOI Bitola to sort the situation about who has the right to issue fines for traffic violations.
Zone parking in Bitola is applied for two years now. Bitola citizens are still waiting for the multi-story car parks in the city center, promised by the Government.
