City cracks down on illegal parking with new paid towing system

Paid Vehicle Towing Introduced in Capital to Curb Traffic Violations

The city has begun enforcing paid towing for vehicles parked in violation of traffic rules, a measure aimed at reducing congestion and improving road safety, reports our website.

According to the Traffic Management Center, three tow trucks are now operating in the city, relocating vehicles to designated municipal impound lots.

Kanat Mambetov, head of the center's department, stated that towing is being carried out in areas where prohibitory signs are posted and where parked cars obstruct traffic.

"We are targeting parking zones and roadways with narrow sections or signs 3.27 and 3.28 [no stopping/no parking]. For example, today a vehicle was towed for parking in an unauthorized location under Article 597, Part 3 of the Administrative Offenses Code," Mambetov explained.

He noted that the towing process is fully digitized. Vehicle owners automatically receive a notification via the eGov Mobile app, after which the information is forwarded to the Operational Control Center.

"If a driver cannot find their car and hasn't seen the SMS alert, they can call 102 or 112. Operators will explain the reason for the towing and next steps. To retrieve the vehicle, the owner must resolve the administrative violation, pay the fine, and then collect the car from the impound lot at 2B Arkarly Street," he clarified.

The towing fee is set at 3 monthly calculation indices (MRP), with additional charges for storage.

Marat Saduov, director of the city's Traffic Management Center, emphasized that the measure is part of a comprehensive approach to developing the capital's transport system.

"Following a decision by the maslikhat [local council], paid towing has now been introduced for vehicles left in prohibited areas—on pedestrian crossings, near them, or in spaces reserved for people with disabilities. Such vehicles will be recorded and taken to impound lots," he said.

Saduov stressed that improperly parked cars significantly impact traffic conditions.

"Violations of parking rules can reduce road capacity by up to 50%, leading to congestion and restricted movement. Additionally, vehicles parked near crosswalks obstruct visibility and contribute to accidents," he warned.

He added that the city records over 2,000 such violations daily, with the total number of vehicles in the capital—including out-of-town traffic—exceeding 600,000.

Drivers do have some recourse: if an owner arrives before towing begins, the vehicle will be released on the spot. If towing has already started but the car has not yet been loaded, the fine may be reduced by 50% if the driver admits the violation. However, once the vehicle reaches the impound lot, the full fee applies.