Athens Municipality police start cracking down on illegal parking that obstructs traffic
Athens Municipal Police, the Traffic Police and officers of the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) teamed up last Monday for their first mass onslaught against illegally parked vehicles in the capital’s center and outlying neighborhoods. Sixteen crews comprising two Municipal Police officers and one Traffic Police officer went through the most troublesome areas of the Athens road network with a fine-toothed comb from 8 a.m. to late at night, in search of vehicles blocking the smooth flow of traffic. The Municipality of Athens has targeted vehicles that are parked «anti-socially,» blocking street corners, double-parked alongside other cars, and parked on pedestrian crossings and wheelchair ramps. Monday was the first time the Municipal Police exercised the legal right to remove the license plates of illegally parked vehicles. The plates are held for 10 or 20 days (depending on the violation) and given back to the owner of the vehicle when the fine of 34.50 euros (for a 10-day confiscation) and 65.50 euros (for a 50-day confiscation) is paid. The Municipal Police’s campaign, which covers all seven departments of the Athens Municipality, is focusing on those areas of the city where parking violations are especially frequent and cause major delays in traffic. These areas were mapped out by the municipal authorities in cooperation with OASA. Vehicles parked on sidewalks and pedestrian crossings will also have their license plates removed, as will any other vehicles blocking the passage of pedestrians. Reclaiming plates The Municipality of Athens announced that license plates that have been removed can be reclaimed by car owners after the designated period of 10 or 20 days and upon payment of the fine, at the Municipal Police headquarters at 10 Armodiou Street, Omonia.
