Sokcho City to Implement "EV Charging Obstruction Resident Reporting System"...Fines Up to 200,000 Won

Sokcho City to Fully Implement System from March 3
Stronger Crackdown on Parking Violations in Eco-Friendly Vehicle Zones
Includes Changes to Plug-In Hybrid Slow-Charging Zone Time Limits

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province will operate a resident reporting system for acts of obstructing the charging of eco-friendly vehicles and for parking violations starting March 3.

View of Sokcho City Hall.

The resident reporting system is implemented under the relevant laws to ensure the efficient use of eco-friendly vehicle charging facilities and dedicated parking spaces. It is a system in which residents report, via the "Safety e-Report App," everyday inconveniences caused by charging obstruction, in line with enforcement standards and reporting requirements.

For reported cases, administrative fines will be imposed based on photos and videos as supporting evidence, without on-site verification by enforcement officers.

Only photos and videos taken using the Safety e-Report App will be accepted.

The location of the violation must be clearly identifiable, all reported photos must allow identification of the vehicle license plate number, and the time of shooting must be displayed.

In addition, signs indicating the charging zone, charging facilities, and other markings that confirm the area is an electric vehicle charging zone must appear in the photos and videos so that charging obstruction and other violations can be clearly proven.

Reportable violations include parking violations such as internal combustion engine vehicles parking in eco-friendly vehicle charging zones; electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles exceeding the permitted charging (parking) time; and acts that obstruct charging, such as stacking objects in eco-friendly vehicle charging zones or parking nearby or stacking objects nearby in a way that interferes with charging.

Using eco-friendly vehicle charging facilities for purposes other than charging, erasing or damaging markings indicating charging zones, and damaging the charging facilities themselves are also subject to enforcement.

In particular, the enforcement scope also includes changes resulting from the revision of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy regulation on "Requirements for Eco-Friendly Vehicles," such as the reduction of the permitted usage time for plug-in hybrid vehicles in slow-charging zones (from the previous 14 hours to 7 hours), and the change in apartment conditions for exemptions from the permitted charging (parking) time in slow-charging zones (from the previous fewer than 500 households to fewer than 100 households). Residents should take note of these changes.

Administrative fines ranging from 100,000 won to 200,000 won will be imposed for violations.

An official from Sokcho City said, "We expect that operating the resident reporting system will help establish a mutually considerate culture of eco-friendly vehicle charging."