While the news of the existence of over one thousand vehicles parked on the country’s docksides and impounded because they are over five years old, is not new, the announcement that the Director General of Customs will auction off the vehicles if they are not sent out of the country within 30 days, is. El Caribe says that there are as many as 2,000 of these vehicles currently on the docks. Several senators have asked for special dispensations for the vehicles currently in the country. None of the special deals will be offered to vehicles classified as “salvaged” since the law specifically prohibits these vehicles from entering the country, since they represent a risk to public safety. In today’s Hoy, buried in the Sports Section, the Director General of Customs (DGA), Miguel Cocco has placed an advertisment announcing the auctions. The ad says that after a single 30-day period, during which the vehicles may be shipped out of the country, the DGA will proceed to auction the vehicles that have not been shipped. These cars will be valued and cleared through Customs as if they are year 2000 models. Opening bids for the vehicles will start at a 40% above value and Customs charges as a penalty for violating the law in the first place. The note says that none of these facilities will be applied to “salvaged” vehicles. In addition, any vehicle that comes into the country and is over five years old will not be accorded these privileges. The note ends by saying that the DGA takes full responsibility for this measure since it recognizes that it is a big blow to many household budgets.