Veaceslav Sârbu, a National Patrol Inspectorate jurist, made clear what are the rights and obligations of patrol agents and drivers. National Patrol Inspectorate agents are authorized to pull over vehicles if road legislation violations are ascertained, if drivers show an aggressive behavior in traffic, if a special operation is in progress or if the verification of goods or people transportation legality is necessary.
According to Veaceslav Sârbu, NPI employees can stop vehicles, including cars registered in other countries and cars with neutral registration plates, to check the existence and validity of the road tax or to verify the right of the motorist to drive.
"When stopping a car, the patrol agents are obliged to present the service card and to offer the driver the reason for stopping the vehicle", the NPI lawyer said. Cars may be stopped if traffic law violations are ascertained or if the patrol officer has reasonable suspicion that goods or persons are carried illegally.
The lawyer added that the patrol agent is entitled to ask for the driving license, the registration certificate of the car and, as the case may be, for documents of transported goods.
"In the event of reasonable suspicion, the patrol agent may search the passenger compartment or the trunk of a motor vehicle. Such a procedure is accomplished by registering the corresponding procedural documents. If the officer wishes to perform a search, a record regarding the search shall be issued, made known to all participants and will include the recording of the right to object. The patrol agent is equipped with all the necessary procedural documents," said Veaceslav Sârbu. In case of filters or other special operations, the National Patrol Inspectorate is not obliged to announce in advance about their unfolding”, said Veaceslav Sârbu.
When stopped by patrol agents, the drivers are obliged to wait in the car with their hands on the steering wheel until the agent approaches the vehicle and, throughout the night, turn on the light in the passenger compartment. Also, drivers are required to present the documents requested by the patrol agent, including those related to the transport of goods or persons.
