W1 mil. fine for failure to remove snow

By Kwon Mee-yoo

From this winter, people need to prepare shovels to remove snow piled up in front of your house, as a failure to do so could cost them up to a 1 million won ($870) fine.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Wednesday it will enforce the fine to minimize problems caused by expected heavy snowfall.

Park Yeon-soo, the administrator of NEMA, said he will submit a revised bill, with new regulations imposing a penalty for those who do not clear away snow on the paths in front of their properties to the National Assembly this month.

The agency’s move came after Seoul had heavy snow in January of over 25 centimeters a day. The agency has complained that without the support of citizens, it cannot cope with heavier snowfall.

“We expect more heavy snow this winter and it is impossible for the central and local governments to take care of small back alleys and streets. Citizens should take responsibility for their own area,” Park said.

Residents in apartment blocks, who are unable to clear up snow, such as families with both adults working or people away from home for a long time, can pay their local ward offices to clear the snow.

The agency said other countries already impose fines on people for not clearing snow in front of their houses. New York State fines people $50-$100; Toronto, 105 Canadian dollars; and Germany, more than 500 euros.

“The city of Moorhead, Minn., charges the cost of snow removal to citizens if they don’t clear away snow in front of their houses,” a NEMA official said.

However, civic organizations have criticized the idea as being just an administrative convenience.

“It’s true that the government cannot clear snow in every small alley. However, they have to make the people realize the magnitude of the issue by themselves, not by enforcing legal sanctions,” said Kim Young-hoon of the Citizens United for a Better Society.

“Instead of trying to impose heavy fines, the government should first campaign to restore community culture and urge voluntary snow clearing.”

집앞 눈 안치우면 벌금 100만원

이번 겨울에는 집 앞 길에 쌓인 눈을 치우지 않으면 100만원의 벌금을 물을지도 모른다.

소방방재청은 눈이 쌓여서 일어나는 교통 대란을 최소화하기 위해 오는 겨울부터 강제적으로 치우게 할 계획이라고 밝혔다.

박연수 청장은 수정법안을 이 달 안으로 국회에 제출 승인을 받을 계획이다.

지난 1월 서울에서 하루 25센티미터가 내려 눈 대란을 겪으면서 방재청은 이 같은 개정법안을 내기로 결정했다.