Off the Record

This photo was taken by The Day’s photo journalist on one of Kyiv streets. You can see militia officer impounding an offender’s license plates. This could be regarded as an illustration for last Friday’s parliamentary hearings of a bill having a special meaning for the Ukrainian car owners and drivers. Few if any of them will consider it democratic, it may improve the situation of domestic roads and highways; law enforcement agencies have long insisted on Ukrainian drivers getting increasingly irresponsible.

That day the lawgivers actually deliberated two bills in the first reading, provided for amendments to the Ukrainian Administrative Code, particularly heavier fines for violations of traffic rules. It is further proposed to mete out administrative punishments for the installation of non-standard sound and light indicators contrary to the traffic rules, and for unauthorized passage of heavy- duty trucks and other such vehicles on roads, city streets and railroad crossings. Heavier fines (from 8-340 to UAH 34-170) are envisaged for the transportation of dangerous substances and articles; for non-use of safety belts and crash helmets, for speeding, jumping traffic lights, ignoring road signs, lanes, parking rules, and traffic militia officers’ “requests” to stop a vehicle. Also, heavier penalties are proposed for drivers leaving the traffic accident scene, for driving without - or when refusing to produce - the driver’s license or another document allowing driving the vehicle; finally, fines are envisaged for pedestrians violating traffic rules. From now on the militia will be within their right to investigate most traffic violation cases, impound driver’s licenses, counterfoils [i.e. tickets enclosed with driver’s licences which the traffic militia officer punches, indicating the degree of violation; after a certain number of holes appear, the license is suspended and the bearer must undergo an official driving test], and vehicles (such vehicles are then towed to the impoundment yard). If the alleged offender wants to contest the charges, it is to be done in due course of law. If a pedestrian charged with violating traffic rules does not object to the charges and the attendant administrative punishment, no official statement is made (sic!). People pressed administrative charges are allowed to attend the examination of evidence: their personal effects, their vehicle, and the process of drawing up the required statement.