Pingtung alleys see low towing rate for illegal parking, audit office demands police review

Pingtung City's audit office has called on the police to address a low towing rate for illegally parked vehicles in the city's alleyways. An investigation revealed that towing operations primarily target major roads, with significantly fewer vehicles removed from narrower streets. This disparity raises public questions about law enforcement fairness and poses risks to emergency services, particularly firefighters.

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Pingtung City's alleyways have a low towing rate for illegally parked vehicles, prompting the audit office to demand improvements from the police.

The audit office noted that the Pingtung County Police Bureau's contract for towing services amounts to over 31.73 million yuan for the period of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027. As of the end of October last year, 6,499 vehicles were towed through proactive patrols and by towing companies, with an additional 393 towed following public complaints. Analysis using geographic information systems showed that towing hotspots are concentrated along key routes like Minsheng Road, Hesheng Road, and near the Pingtung train station.

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The audit found towing hotspots concentrated on main roads, neglecting narrower streets, raising concerns about fairness and fire safety.

The audit office recommended that the police leverage digital technology and big data analytics. By integrating towing data and public complaint information, they could create a heat map of illegal parking hotspots to improve enforcement accuracy and deter violations, thereby ensuring safer passage for vehicles and pedestrians. In response, the Pingtung County Police Bureau stated they will utilize a newly established "Pingtung County Road Safety Accident Data Application Platform" to analyze historical data from public complaints and contracted towing services, aiming to refine patrol strategies.

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The Pingtung County Police Bureau will use a new platform to analyze data and adjust patrol plans to address illegal parking in alleys.