How the Mayor of Vilnius is Planning to Deal With Illegally Parked Cars

[Sam48]

I have no idea what to make of this, but I'm quite certain it should work.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43986054/ns/world_news-weird_news/?GT1=43001#.Tjh_tByaI5s

Frustrated by motorists who park their cars with impunity around the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Mayor Arturas Zuokas reportedly took an extreme approach to express his displeasure.
Stampede!

According to the Irish Times, the mayor, seeking to reassure residents that the city will not let drivers park illegally without punishment, hopped in an armored personnel carrier and drove over a Mercedes-Benz.
Video of the publicity stunt — posted on the mayor's YouTube page — shows the grinning lawmaker and a handful of men riding the tank as it slowly rolls over, then partially crushes, an old Mercedes-Benz S-Class parked in a bus lane.

"In the past few days, expensive cars have been illegally parked in almost this exact place – a Rolls Royce and a Ferrari," the mayor reportedlyexplains while narrating the video.
"This tank is a good tool to solve the problem of parking in the wrong place."
The mayor, reportedly a biking enthusiast, is shown cleaning some of the mess, then riding his bike away from the scene.
According to the Irish Times, Mr. Zuokas explained that he "wanted to send a message."

"I want to point out that if you have a car and more money it doesn’t mean that you can park it everywhere. Recently, there’s been an increase in this type of parking violations, and it shows a lack of respect for others."
The mayor's spokeswoman, Irma Juskenaite, told theGuardian that Zuokas hopes residents received the message loud and clear.
"The mayor hopes that he will not have to repeat his performance to have drivers heed his message, although he says that he is prepared to do so."

Additionally, Juskenaite told the Guardian that the Mercedes-Benz was purchased specifically for the video.

Any thoughts?

 

[DK]

First of all, I had a strange smirk on my face when I saw the words "Irish Times".

On-topic, I wanna see him take on the stereotypical jackass SUV driver.

 

[Villain]

Make the bus stop (or other important parking area) a zero-tolerance tow-away zone. Have tow trucks ready to tow away violators immediately.

Also - make more available parking spaces. 💡

 

[BobK]

This thing is constantly being referred to as a "tank". It is not a tank.

He purchased the Mercedes with his own money beforehand, it was a stunt to show what "could happen".

Even with that said, I thought it was great!

 

[Stevisiov]

This thing is constantly being referred to as a "tank". It is not a tank.

He purchased the Mercedes with his own money beforehand, it was a stunt to show what "could happen".

Even with that said, I thought it was great!

Indeed, it was clearly quite an old luxury car, it looked very much like a setup. It was also clearly an armoured car as opposed to a tank.

 

[Pupik]

While I'd be lying if I said I haven't had this car-crushing fantasy before, somehow the clean-up of the crushed vehicles (cubicles?) doesn't translate to efficiency.

 

[TT3AZ]

Well done, especially as these countries are ro reliable and no corrupcy exists. I would like to se Mayors face when hes cars are beeing crashed, but then again, as long as you a part ov the government, you can do what ever you like.

 

[Sam48]

I would like to se Mayors face when hes cars are beeing crashed, but then again, as long as you a part ov the government, you can do what ever you like.

I would hope not. (Unless I'm reading this wrong, which I'm sure I am)

 

[Omnis]

Dude would get blown away if he crushed my Benz. Seriously... fine the people and charge them for towing, but don't crush the car! A lot of these super rich dudes would be fine with essentially paying all those fees (and paying someone else for their time spent retrieving it) just to park their car. Don't they have towing companies there? Wouldn't they jump at the chance to remove illegally parked cars, especially in a spot that is known to be constantly obstructed?

 

[Joel]

Just remember guys, that he bought the Benz beforehand just for the purpose of this video. It wasn't some guy's Mercedes.

 

[Moglet]

A lot of these super rich dudes would be fine with essentially paying all those fees (and paying someone else for their time spent retrieving it) just to park their car.

And that's the problem. It's not a deterrent if you've got a lot of money. They should take a leaf out of Sweden's books and change the fines based on the owner's income.

 

[hambone8611]

Fines based on income, that’s interesting, I like it.

 

[Sam48]

And that's the problem. It's not a deterrent if you've got a lot of money. They should take a leaf out of Sweden's books and change the fines based on the owner's income.

But I don't want the government to label me based on my income. I know it sounds like a good idea, but just wait until they start applying that elsewhere.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I know it sounds like a good idea, but just wait until they start applying that elsewhere.

Like taxes? ...oh wait

 

[Omnis]

And that's the problem. It's not a deterrent if you've got a lot of money. They should take a leaf out of Sweden's books and change the fines based on the owner's income.

I dont see a problem though. Tow companies make a ton of money and offending cars get towed everyday so that the spots remain free. You could literally have the tow trucks waiting there like vultures. That's how they do at FSU. They have towers swarming the lots looking for illegal parkers

 

[Dan_]

He could just use wheel locks on every illegally parked car or even reinforce the traffic department with a respectable number of tow trucks. Instead, he choose to draw attention with something that will only be useful as a joke...

Politics...

@Omnis : Yeah, in my town this is how it works, the tow service is outsourced and the contractors get paid by each car towed away. It's brilliant.

 

[Jim Prower]

Needs moar dual Ford 460 and blue ford van body.

 

[Sam48]

Like taxes? ...oh wait

I was thinking more along the lines of insurance... or maybe stamps.

 

[lbsf1]

Guys fines don't work because of the diplomats imunity to laws, there was a section in a recent top gear mag which said how much some diplomats owe in parking fines, some peoples were over 50 grand.

 

[Mr. CoolFiat]

YES! I saw this on Jalopnik.com.... best... mayor... ever!!
And what Jim Prower said too!!

 

[slims]

Any thoughts?

Thoughts? I think this stupid publicity stunt is a waste of time and money and it makes the Mayor look like an idiot. He purchases a car and crushes it with an armored car...so what kind of message is this supposed to send? Do you think all the supercar owners are now scared to park illegally because the Mayor is going to come with his armored car and roll over them? Not a chance. A completely pointless stunt.

 

[Sam48]

Thoughts? I think this stupid publicity stunt is a waste of time and money and it makes the Mayor look like an idiot.

I suppose it shows how fed up he is, wouldn't you say? I honestly wouldn't mind looking stupid when it comes to enforcing the law (Maybe not to this extent though).

He purchases a car and crushes it with an armored car...so what kind of message is this supposed to send?

*connecting the dots*.... That you shouldn't park illegally, maybe?

Do you think all the supercar owners are now scared to park illegally because the Mayor is going to come with his armored car and roll over them?

Not a chance. A completely pointless stunt.

 

[Dan_]

Well, I'm with slims. Why not impose a fine based on a percentage of the car's value? Why not penalize the driver's license?

Honestly, this was just a marketing shot and although many people found that impressive and a clear message to lawbreakers, I don't think anyone will give a damn 🤬. Taking money away works, this stupid stunt doesn't.

 

[Sam48]

Taking money away works, this stupid stunt doesn't.

Apparently not (Hence the reason he got a armored vehicle). The people who are illegally parking are rich enough that they can pay the fine, and subsequently don't care where they park.

 

[popcorn]

This is nothing more than a publicity stunt.

 

[Villain]

This is nothing more than a publicity stunt.

NO WAY!

 

[Dan_]

Apparently not (Hence the reason he got a armored vehicle). The people who are illegally parking are rich enough that they can pay the fine, and subsequently don't care where they park.

Fair enough, but as soon as the fines start to grow exponentially and each one of them touches the five digit mark, people will start getting the hang of it...

Or inflict penalties on the driver's license, I almost lost my license due to numerous fines, I'm not rich and live in a thirld world country, even so all the fines summed together doesn't mean much to my monthly income, the penalty points I've got in my license do mean a lot, and that made the change the way I drive. How could it not work pretty much everywhere else?

 

[alexleighton]

That's a pretty stupid stunt, and I suppose the question has to be asked: Is the city deliberately making it difficult to park?