Fines for carrying too many passengers could double

The fines for bus and minibus drivers who take too many passengers on board could double. A proposal was made by the Ministry of the Interior’s Traffic Police Division, which presented to the Government a series of amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses. The fines would be also increased for other frequent violations that cause accidents and victims, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to a press release from the Division, if the proposed changes are approved, drivers risk fines of 1000-2000 lei for overcrowding the vehicles or a 6 month ban from driving. This is double the fine currently provided by law. For such offenses, people in positions of authority will be fined 3000-4000 lei and banned from their job for 3 to 12 months, and legal entities risk a fine of 5000-6000 lei and ban from 6 to 12 months. People responsible of issuing certificates for approving vehicles for exploitation that violate the norms and allow for exploitation vehicles in a technically unsatisfactory state will be fined 2000-3000 lei. During two weeks in September, the traffic police ran the “Bus” operation, during which it documented over 500 violations in the transportation of passengers. In half of the cases, the drivers carried too many passengers than allowed.