Fatshimetrie: The problem of vehicles without license plates in the impound lot
The issue of vehicles without license plates has become a real headache for many owners in Bunia, where more than a hundred vehicles have been blocked at the police headquarters for almost a month. This situation, observed by a Fatshimetrie reporter, raises many questions about the measures taken by local authorities in terms of managing traffic violations.
As soon as they are impounded, owners are charged a sum of 10 US dollars per day for the custody of their vehicles, in addition to the transactional fines to be paid. A financial burden that weighs heavily on the shoulders of those concerned, forcing them to pay substantial sums simply to recover their property.
However, this worrying situation has a direct impact on the local population, as Bienvenu Ukec of the NGO Justice Plus points out. Indeed, this impound policy contributes to further impoverishing citizens who are already economically fragile, thus worsening the living conditions of the community.
The executive secretary of Justice Plus therefore calls on the provincial police commissioner to reconsider the measures applied within the pounds. According to him, it is crucial to find a balance between the need to punish offenders and respect for the dignity of individuals.
However, the point of view of the provincial police commissioner, General Ngoy Sengelwa Kyo diverges from that of the NGO. For the latter, the severity of the sanctions is justified, going so far as to affirm that the fines must be dissuasive in order to teach a real lesson to the offenders.
Despite the justifications put forward by the police authorities, many owners now find themselves in an impasse. The costs associated with recovering their vehicles are indeed likely to far exceed their value, thus posing a major financial dilemma for many of them.
In this delicate situation, where the fees to be paid to the police seem disproportionate to the offences committed, it is essential to find a balance between the need to enforce the law and the protection of citizens’ interests. In-depth reflection is therefore essential to arrive at more equitable solutions that respect the local population.