Río Negro and Ciudad del Este announce disposal of unclaimed motorcycles

Authorities in Río Negro, Uruguay, and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, are initiating procedures to dispose of unclaimed motorcycles held in municipal impound lots.

In Río Negro, the Intendencia has set a 30-day deadline starting October 21 for owners to regularize their status and retrieve seized motorcycles. Failure to do so will result in mass compaction of the vehicles. In Fray Bentos alone, approximately 500 motorcycles are being held, with significant numbers in Young, San Javier, and Nuevo Berlín. To reclaim a vehicle, owners must prove ownership, ensure the motorcycle is in roadworthy condition, and settle outstanding issues at Traffic Department offices.

In Ciudad del Este, the Municipal Transit Police (PMT) is preparing to auction 54 motorcycles that have met the legal requirements for disposal. Over 100 seized vehicles remain in the depot, many showing signs of deterioration. Local regulations allow for the declaration of abandonment after six months of storage. Officials noted that high fines—sometimes reaching 20 minimum daily wages—plus towing and storage fees often exceed the commercial value of the motorcycles, leading owners to abandon them.