'Twitterconvoy' activists said that the addition of these cars to their convoys to Ukraine would take place in the coming weeks, Latvian Television reported.
In mid-February, the Saeima adopted a final reading of the amendments to the Ukrainian civil peoples support law, which provides that vehicles seized by the State, including cars seized from drunk drivers, will be allowed to be transferred to Ukraine. The amendments provide for the possibility to transfer vehicles under the jurisdiction of the State of Latvia to Ukrainian government ownership as general aid to Ukrainian society.
Every Friday, donated cars and cars purchased by donated money travel to Ukraine via Twitterconvoy. These cars will now be joined by those whose previous owners have lost their vehicles because they have been caught driving under the influence of at least 1.5 permille alcohol. The State Agency for Provision currently has 666 cars and 30% of them are vehicles seized from drunk drivers.
"We came to see what it really was like. And I'm surprised how good the cars are, contrary to some myths, that [drunk drivers] drive old junk. They drive normal cars. We came to understand that all of this could be useful in Ukraine. Ukraine needs any car that drives. Jeeps and vans on the front lines, but for provisions, rotation, medical use – any vehicle goes," said Reinis Pozņaks, head of the Twitterconvoy initiative.
The cars are handled by the State Revenue Service (VID). On average VID takes in 250 cars per year, but since the entry into force of these new amendments, the number of vehicles handled has increased significantly with parking lots filling up, as previously reported by LSM.
These cars can be purchased by anyone, and there is a lot of interest in them because it is an opportunity to get a roadworthy car at a low price. In these auctions, there is no reserve starting price.
Some cars in the lots have also been involved in accidents. If it is possible to repair them cheaply, it will be done using donor funds. It is presumed that the new additions to the Twitterconvoy will take place in the next few weeks.
