"We also have this problem when it comes to Bokeška and Njegoševa streets, which are closed to vehicles - except in the morning until 9 am for deliveries, however, unscrupulous drivers find ways to get their vehicles into those parts of the streets between the pillars and benches that are set up like carts, and these are the images that citizens and people coming from outside see, unfortunately," said the director of the Inspection Affairs Directorate. Branko Kovacevic.
The spider service currently has 7 specialized vehicles, while an eighth is being prepared to start operating, says Kovačević. He adds that the traffic chaos in Podgorica is a big challenge, because they also lack personnel. However, there are 3 or 4 spider vehicles active per shift, so, as he says, they have to determine priority locations.
"We are working at maximum capacity and trying to accommodate everyone. During the day we have over 200 phone calls for illegally parked vehicles, then we also have them via email, official duty - when inspectors and traffic managers pass by, and in that area we have reports, so that number exceeds 300 per day," he points out.
Kovačević explains that they react to every report, but given that there are more than 100,000 vehicles registered in Podgorica, they cannot sanction all negligent drivers, which is why, as he says, citizens feel that they are not efficient.
"Together with the GG administration, we worked on amendments to laws and regulations, and after 2 and a half years of persistent insistence, that law finally went to parliamentary debate and we are waiting for it to be adopted," he points out.
The law, he says, will prescribe double the fines, which are currently only 60 euros. In addition, it will be possible to sanction vehicles that are stopped in traffic lanes, and part of this work will be carried out by municipal police officers by decision of the city administration, so that violations in Podgorica will be punished much more efficiently, Kovačević concluded.
