In a move that would make even the strictest European capitals raise an eyebrow, the Tirana Local Police Directorate proudly announced its latest crusade: cracking down on improper parking. But this time, it’s not just about tickets or towed cars—it’s about criminal prosecution.
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| Tirana Police Arrest a Driver for Parking Wrongly |
The names? Publicly listed. The offense? Parking where they shouldn't. The message? Crystal clear: "Respect the rules—the road belongs to everyone."
On paper, it sounds admirable. Discipline. Order. Public safety. But one can’t help but wonder—is this a traffic initiative or a slow-burning satire? In a city where entire buildings spring up without permits, where double-parked SUVs outside luxury bars are more common than streetlights, this kind of rigor suddenly being applied to bad parking feels... selective, at best.
Let’s not forget: Article 293 typically deals with blocking public ways intentionally, often for protests or large-scale obstruction. Yet in this case, the offense is leaving your Dacia too close to the curb. Dramatic? Perhaps. Consistent? Not quite.
Meanwhile, Tirana’s sidewalks continue to be colonized by cafés, construction materials, and yes—sometimes even police vehicles themselves. But rest assured: if your old Opel Astra is 30cm over the white line, you’re now one step away from a criminal record.
In fairness, the idea of tidier streets and smoother traffic is universally welcome. But when the full weight of the Penal Code is dropped on a few unlucky drivers, while other, far more blatant urban violations go untouched, the initiative starts to feel less like justice and more like a performance.
Still, the Road Police of Tirana remain firm in their stance. Controls will continue. Sanctions will be enforced. Citizens are warned: Don’t block the road, or you might block your own future.
After all, in the Albania of 2025, parking wrong doesn’t just get your car towed—it gets you in court.