A new impound lot for vehicles seized due to traffic violations began operations this Thursday in Cienfuegos, in the Reina area, where the old ice plant used to be, according to the Provincial Citizen Portal of the provincial government and shared by the unofficial profile Las Cosas de Fernanda on Facebook. The facility, operated by the Provincial Transport Company, accepts mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, cars, and automobiles that the MININT or the Transportation Inspection body decide to remove from the roadway.
The citizen response came swiftly, and the focus was not on the measure itself, but on the custody fees that the State will charge owners while their vehicles are held.
For a moped or scooter, the charge starts at 100 pesos for the first 24 hours and increases to 200 pesos per day after the first day. Animal-drawn vehicles have an initial fee of 200 pesos and 400 pesos for each additional day. For cars and tricycles, the rate is 300 pesos for the first day and 600 pesos per day starting from the second day.
"A measure to improve road safety? This is a measure to increase revenues intended for God knows who," wrote one user. Another was more direct: "The true and only intention with this new method is to acquire money, stop trying to cover the sun with a finger."
"Who is responsible if a scooter comes in complete and leaves without a part? Who compensates the owner if it appears damaged? Does the citizen have to keep paying for a delay that is not their fault?" asked another commentator, who added that "Cubans need road safety, but they also need legal security, transparency, and respect for their property and their finances."
The director of the Provincial Transport Company, Orlando Valdés Pérez, defended the installation and assured that "all security conditions, storage, custody, and lighting are in place," with permanent surveillance coordinated with the MININT.
The issue most frequently highlighted by Cubans is the bureaucracy surrounding the retrieval process: the evaluation committee that approves the withdrawal of the vehicle usually meets only on Fridays, which can extend the retention period by several days during which the owner has no means to expedite it.
With a state average salary of 7,354 pesos per month and a minimum wage of 3,210 pesos, a car owner who waits a week for the resolution of their case could incur over 4,000 pesos just in custody fees.
In Santiago de Cuba more than 200 vehicles were seized in April, and in Las Tunas daily fees of 500 pesos were established with the threat of confiscation for non-payment. In Villa Clara over 40,000 fines were imposed and 53 licenses were permanently revoked by October 2026.
Several citizens also pointed out that, before imposing penalties, authorities should facilitate the obtaining of driving licenses and improve road infrastructure.
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