More than a hundred end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) have been identified by the territorial police in the French part of the territory. The Collectivity launched a campaign on Thursday, July 23rd, to remove these wrecks in partnership with...eco-organizationI recycle my vehicle", already active in French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe. The organization takes charge of the removal and processing of the vehicles.
The operation began in Sandy Ground, where 26 wrecked vehicles were identified. Colombier and Quartier d'Orléans will follow, areas also heavily affected by the accumulation of end-of-life vehicles on public roads, according to the census conducted over the last three months.
When a vehicle is reported, the local police try to identify its owner using the license plate or information from residents. A formal notice is then sent by mail, requiring the owner to remove the vehicle within 15 days and have it recycled at their own expense if it is unroadworthy.
When the owner cannot be found, the vehicle is marked and then removed for depollution at the Grandes Cayes eco-site, as there is no impound lot in the territory. In Sandy Ground, only two owners have recovered their vehicles. The other 24 will be transferred to the eco-site in the coming days.
Safety, hygiene and beautification of the territory
“After the markings are put in place, some cars are simply moved elsewhere, which only postpones the problem,” laments Brigadier Francis. Territorial Police Chief Raymond Lake points out that these abandoned vehicles occupy parking spaces, block sidewalks, encourage mosquito breeding, and can pose a danger during a hurricane.
This campaign is part of the cleanup operation undertaken by the Collectivity in preparation for the hurricane season. It will also support the upcoming sidewalk repairs in Sandy Ground, which have been announced but whose timeline is yet to be determined. Currently, “the sidewalks in Sandy Ground are the least safe in Saint-Martin,” laments Thierry Verres, Deputy Director of Security and Public Safety Services. _DR
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Residents can report an abandoned vehicle on public roads to the local police. For a vehicle abandoned on private property, removal can be requested free of charge online through “Je Recycle mon véhicule”.
