An operation deployed on the morning of this Friday, April 16, 2021 by the Metropolitan Transit Agency (AMT) in the vicinity of one of the vaccination of older adults in Quito it caused discomfort.
In social networks, the intervention of agents who arrived on the outskirts of the Central Technical College to sanction to badly parked vehicles. These vehicles belonged to the companions of the elderly who were summoned to that school to receive the first dose of the vaccine against covid-19.
Esteban Ortiz reported that he arrived at the place with his 80-year-old mother 45 minutes before the scheduled shift and found a line of 50 people waiting. Many of them with mobility problems, even with wheelchairs, so they preferred to wait in their vehicles, to avoid the tumult and therefore, the risk of contagion.
Upon arriving about 45 min before the agreed time, you could see a line of about 50 older adults and a line of cars on the sidewalk, many of them with mobility problems waiting in the cars.
Oh surprise the municipalities arrive just like a raid to want to fine everyone pic.twitter.com/NGGJoYSnZg– Esteban Ortiz (@EstebanOrtizMD) April 16, 2021
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In social networks, a video was disseminated with the moment in which an agent arrived on a motorcycle, along with a wincha (platform), and they began to take the cars that were parked on the sidewalk.
In the video, the drivers complain and assure that, when their turn came, they had to leave the car on the sidewalk to help their older adult relatives to the point of vaccination. And they described the actions of the authorities as unfair.
On this particular topic, the AMT indicated that a statement will be issued. However, the mayor of Quito Jorge Yundareplied the whistleblower’s message. He apologized and quoted: “Sometimes the rule has to be understood from the reality of this health emergency, It will not happen again”.
According to the AMT, one of the most frequent faults in the city has to do with the vehicle parking in places not allowed.
A thousand apologies, sometimes the rule must be understood from the reality of this health emergency, it will not happen again.
– Jorge Yunda Machado (@LoroHomero) April 16, 2021
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The fine for this infraction, according to Ordinance 247, is 10% of a Unified Basic Salary. That is USD 40.
If the vehicle is detained, to this value are added the AMT winch and yard costs (depending on the number of days). The driver is also punished with the three point reduction on the driver’s license.
Since last year, the AMT has identified 14 areas in which badly parked vehicles on a recurring basis. There, for example, the central streets were identified Benalcázar and Sucre. There are also the surroundings of the Government Platforms in the north and south.
The outrage was not just mine, many people to run and leave their old in line alone while the drivers to run and look for where to park. I know that many will say “the law is the law” with which I agree but what about LOGIC and common sense as well as empathy? pic.twitter.com/FTFyMOUSxz
– Esteban Ortiz (@EstebanOrtizMD) April 16, 2021
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According to the municipal entity, more than 8,800 cars were sanctioned last year for parking badly.
Juan Manuel Aguirre placeholder image, director of the AMT, recognized the lack of spaces to park vehicles in the District, and said that the Management of Terminals and Parking of the Epmmop had planned to expand the Blue Zone.
Currently, the city has 8 883 spaces that provide that service. The goal was to expand it to 18,000 spaces in total. But due to the health emergency the project is paralyzed.
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