Traffic Extortions Will Grow

What will new traffic rules bring?

Belarus is going to adopt a new set of traffic rules. Journalists have learned about some innovations due to the fact that the draft decree has been introduced for "public discussion".

It should be noted that the draft traffic rules legally extended powers of the traffic police.

For example, inspectors will have the right to stop any car under pretence of checking documents. Until now, Belarusian drivers could refer to absence of such a reason in the official rules.

How will the situation on the roads change after the adoption of the new traffic code?

Entrepreneur Viktar Harbachou answers questions of Charter97.org:

- The situation for drivers will change not for the best. In fact, the traffic police are given a new "weapon" and they will use it. After all, they do not like how drivers talk to them now.

Traffic policemen see that our people are getting more literate. Traffic rules are read, legislation is taught, and they start to translate it not into words, but in actions.

"What is the reason for stopping? Why are you inspecting the car?", these questions cause a nervous reaction from the traffic police. They believe that their powers have been seized and they are nostalgic about the times when our people were illiterate and obediently obeyed everything. And now people start resisting!

Therefore, the authorities invent new steps to expand the powers of the traffic police for stopping, inspecting and, perhaps, some further actions.

- What do you mean?

- Extortions and fines for drivers will increase. There are less such extortions on the part of the traffic police now, at least because they have to stop less. And now they are unleashed: guys, you can stop, check documents, driving license - whatever you want. We amend the traffic rules...

When a car stops, you can check the fire extinguisher, first aid kit and whatever you want. And fines, fines, fines, fines...

It's another tool against drivers. Another cartridge is loaded to "shoot" at the population with fines.

The option to check personal cars in Belarus is often used for political reasons: the traffic police stop activists, who are trying to get to the place of protest actions. Will such abuses become more frequent?

Yes, of course. Whenever I go to some event, they stop me, detain for an hour or three... The car is checked: they say the numbers are wrong and so on.

This practice will become more common, for sure. The longer the regime retains power, the more it changes the law in its favor. This applies not only to the traffic rules.

Look at the new rules of payment for "secure" rallies. Six thousand rubles for things already allowed by the Constitution!

The new traffic rules are the same story. There are more and more laws providing for new extortions. The space for free people who know how to seek information and know their rights is already narrowing. The government tries to set limits where it has not managed to do before.

- At the beginning of 2014, a state duty was introduced for the right to participate in traffic. Since then, Belarusian drivers have increasingly boycotted the MOT test. What do you think about this act of disobedience?

- 50% of all cars ignore the MOT test. Drivers themselves have joined this act.

Perhaps, the Belarusians would pay the road tax if they saw the result of all these investments. As such, the road tax is a mockery. People drive and see that the state of roads is getting worse from year to year, especially in the regions.

In the regions, in towns, in courtyards, the road carpet is wanting, and the population sees it. First, people don't want to pay for thin air.

Second, there are no more earnings that used to be 10 years ago, when it was possible to pay 150-200 dollars for the MOT test in advance. Today, people in the regions earn at best $150-200 per month and see no point to spend a whole salary for nothing.

Amendments to the traffic rules, believe me, will become one of the grounds to check drivers for road payments. The traffic police have the right to check any documents. It's the clue to catch 50% of drivers who ignore the MOT test within six months and make them pay.

I agree with Belarusian drivers: I see no point in paying this tax plus paying for expensive gasoline. Since the beginning of the year it has risen in price 10 times. At such rate, gasoline will cost 2 rubles by New Year.

There are no decent salaries, the price of fuel is growing, taxes are rising - people are being besieged.

- What is your advice to drivers who face new rules and new extortions?

- First of all, to learn the law. Even with these amendments to the traffic rules, it's possible to find some loophole, some discrepancy in the laws.

Therefore, learn the law, have law books with you: starting from new traffic rules to the Constitution. In order to deliver your arguments properly.

- What if they don't help? Is it possible for drivers to repeat spontaneous protests as it happened in 2011 (Stop Gasoline campaign)?

- Anything is possible. Anything may serve as a trigger: either the rise in gasoline prices, or "parasite" commissions, or the new traffic rules, or something else.

It will happen, because the population is not going to stand up to all these extortions. It will result in resistance on the part of the people. Wages do not grow, new taxes are introduced, life costs more.

I am not Nostradamus to predict events. But resentment is growing. Even 4-5 years ago, the people were silent and still. And now all the workers, villagers, ordinary people are outraged. I, an opposition member, walk down the street and keep silence, and they talk about events in the country. They discuss it at bus stops, in polyclinics, banks...

People spit when the government is mentioned. Everyone is sick and tired of "him". Everybody criticizes these new taxes, price growth...

Everybody knows what is going to happen. They say: "We can't stand it anymore". I can't even repeat words of villagers who used to keep silence and voted for this power for 10 years. Former idols are ready to be literally torn apart.

A slight effort is needed to trigger it. It depends on the authorities what it may become. The police may beat up a small child somewhere, and a riot everyone will know about starts. And people will be unstoppable.

So we're waiting for someone to set fire. The authorities will do it and the people will rise.

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