People in Rīga say that the lilac blossom is one of the most beautiful moments in spring. Not everyone knows that the municipal police can fine people for picking lilacs.
"The gardens and plants are managed by Riga Forests, but the Housing and Environment Department maintains the street green areas owned by the municipality. This includes the Environment Department planting both trees and shrubs, intensively maintaining them in the first years. All of this adds up to €1 million in the budget," said Riga City Council spokesperson Sindija Grāvere.
The municipal police stress that there are relatively few reports against the background of the overall violations. In 2022, six people were fined, compared to two last year. This year, the police have not fined a single offender.
"For natural persons, the penalty is a warning or an administrative fine of between €10 and €350, while for legal persons the fine can reach €750. So this applies to both shrubs and flowers. Rather, people, noticing in the public space that such violations are being committed, reprimand and, most probably, the violators stop their actions," explained Kristīne Kļaveniece, spokesperson for the Riga Municipal Police.
