A junk car in Garapan.
THE Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation on Wednesday unanimously passed House Local Bill 23-32, which will establish a refund program for recycled junk cars.
All 18 members present voted yes to the measure. Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, Sen. Celina Babauta and Rep. Malcolm Omar were excused.
Authored by Rep. Manny Gregory T. Castro, H.L.B. 23-32 would provide financial incentives for the recycling of junk cars in the Third Senatorial District, which is Saipan and the Northern Islands.
The delegation did not conduct a public hearing before passing the local bill.
According to H.L.B. 23-32, the Saipan mayor “shall establish a refund program for the recycling of junk cars.” The program “shall provide a refund of $300 for each junk car that is recycled.”
The refund shall be paid from a revolving account that is funded by 10% of the collected fees and penalties set aside for the Department of Public Works pursuant to 9 CMC § 2119. This refers to the vehicle registration fee collections due to DPW as required by Public Law 20-39.
In his remarks prior to the roll-call vote, Castro said that “just looking around the villages in all the precincts, the prevalence of junk cars continues to grow.”
The problem with junk cars, he added, has been an ongoing issue on Saipan for many years now.
He said he believes that a junk car refund program can “help mitigate the safety and health hazards to the community.”
An auto mechanic, who declined to be identified, said right now, the owner of a junk car pays a recycling company $75 or more, depending on the size of the junk car and its location on island, to tow the junk car.
The mayor’s office, he added, will only tow a junk car if it is abandoned on public land.
According to the local bill:
“The Mayor’s Office may, after 30 days after a junk car has been cited for a zoning violation, tow the junk car away and recycle it.
“The Mayor’s Office shall be responsible for the costs of towing and recycling the junk car.
“The Mayor’s Office may recover the costs of towing and recycling the junk car from the owner of the junk car.”
