Epress.am News from Armenia
The Automobile Drivers Defense League is preparing to appeal several acts of infringement caught on high-speed CCTV cameras that concern incorrect taxi parking, said the defense league's lawyer, Mkrtich Muradyan, at a press conference today.
"The only reason is the lack of parking, which exists every day and which gives cause for great concern. If the government is unable to solve the problem of [lack of] parking over a certain period of time, automobile drivers will stage ongoing protest rallies. The next problem refers to the amount of fines [for violations] recorded by CCTV cameras, which, in our opinion, are quite high. Fines of 30–50 thousand dram [about $72–$121 USD] do not reflect our reality and they must be changed," he said.
Another problem, he said, is the unnecessary, artificially created delays in the courts related to appeals: "They say that supposedly there are some technical shortcomings and the appeals are sent back, but this red tape leads to the fact that those drivers who are unable to defend their interests are forced to pay the administrative fines in full."
Press conference attendee, taxi driver Manvel Avetisyan stressed that prior to the introduction of a new street parking system (demarcated by red paint) there were at least one or two parking spaces for taxis, but now there's nowhere that taxis can stop to wait for customers without having to pay parking fees.
"We need about 300 parking spots. Please don't fine us, since the government has not yet made a corresponding decision. We will appeal all fines," said Automobile Drivers Defense League President Tigran Hovhannisyan.