The penalties for the illegal transportation of persons, included in the Code of Administrative Offenses, are welcome, but cannot effectively combat the phenomenon, IPN reports, quoting managers and experts in the field.

The head of the Chisinau Electric Transport Company Gheorghe Morgoci has told the Agency that the new provisions of the Code of Administrative Offenses will have only positive effects. On the one hand, the responsibility of carriers’ employees will increase and a step will be taken towards combating the illegal transportation of persons. On the other hand, the carriers will raise their revenues and the state budget incomes will rise.

Ilie Bricicaru, head of the public association “Road Safety in Moldova”, approved of the authorities’ intention to solve this problem at economic, social and moral levels, but said that the new conditions are insufficient for fully dealing with it and can even cause additional difficulties.

Contacted by IPN, Ilie Bricicaru said the new penalties may have a negative effect on road safety. The drivers of minibuses running on suburban routes will be distracted when they will have to collect money for the trip and to issue tickets. “The kiosks in towns should sell tickets for trips by public transport. This way, road safety will be ensured and such penalties will not be necessary,” he stated.

According to Ilie Bricicaru, it’s good that the authorities take measures to combat illegal passenger transportation, but this is only a first step. “Appropriate regulations are required in this process. The work of the carriers and drivers must be strictly monitored,” he added.

On October 18, the MPs passed a bill that introduces new penalties in the first reading. Thus, the passengers travelling without a ticket will pay a fine of up to 400 lei, while the drivers and conductors of up to 1,200 lei.