TBILISI, April 28 – The ruling party in Georgia is expanding fines for the improper placement and sale of used tires, scrap metal, old vehicles and hazardous materials from Tbilisi to the whole country.
Parliament adopted the changes to the Code of Administrative Offenses in the third reading on Tuesday, April 28. The rules had previously applied only in the capital, Tbilisi, but will now also cover other municipalities.
The changes apply to used tires, ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, vehicles taken out of service and their parts, as well as easily flammable, explosive or breakable materials.
Under the new rules, placing or selling those materials in locations not designated by the relevant municipal council will lead to a fine of 2,500 lari for individuals and 5,000 lari for legal entities.
Repeat offenses will bring higher fines: 5,000 lari for individuals and 15,000 lari for legal entities.
The penalties are tougher in cultural heritage protection zones. In those areas, an individual may be fined 5,000 lari and a legal entity 10,000 lari for a first offense. For a repeat offense, the fine rises to 10,000 lari for individuals and 30,000 lari for legal entities.
The bill also sets fines for placing or selling the same materials in violation of rules established by municipal councils. In those cases, individuals face a fine of 1,000 lari and legal entities 2,500 lari.
For a repeat violation of that type, individuals may be fined 2,500 lari and legal entities 5,000 lari.
If the violation takes place in a cultural heritage protection zone, the fine will be 2,500 lari for individuals and 5,000 lari for legal entities. Repeat violations in such zones will lead to fines of 5,000 lari for individuals and 15,000 lari for legal entities.
