Approximately 1,193 cars went up in flames in France on New Year's Eve as part of a yearly tradition according to a report by the Associated Press. Interior Minister Manuel Valls made the announcement of the approximate number of vehicles that were destroyed on Dec. 31, marking the first time that France has released the number in three years.
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Former President Nicholas Sarkozy decided to stop publishing the number in an attempt to reduce the crime rate on New Year's Eve. France's current government system decided otherwise, determining that releasing the number was "the best method" and that the rate of burned vehicles remained steady compared to the last three years.
The last time the figure was made available to the public was in 2009, when 1,147 vehicles were burned according to the Associated Press.
During Sarkozy's reign, he had hoped not releasing the number would prevent other non-accidental car fires that occur throughout the year for various reasons. France experiences a number of car fires throughout the year due to gangs destroying evidence after committing a crime and people making fake insurance claims, to name a few.
The practice of burning vehicles on New Year's Eve started in poor neighborhoods in the 1990's, and has just evolved as a voice of protest since. In the fall of 2005, over 8,810 vehicles were burned in three weeks.
Some people take to social networking sites to brag about how many vehicles they have burned or helped with, which has proven to be a mistake in the past.
"We know that neighborhoods compete," said Bruno Beschizza, the national security for security matters in Sarkozy's UMP party according to the Associated Press. "Gang rivalries center on who can torch the most cars, with claims made on social networks like Facebook and Twitter."
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