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Selfishness of Gori Patrol Police

April 23, 2009

Tea Tedliashvili

The Patrol police install traffic signs in Gori wherever they want. The places to fix the traffic signs are selected perfectly-- trees. Consequently, the drivers often find themselves in an awkward situation because it is difficult to notice the signs. However, patrol police, the pride of the state, fill the state budget by fining the drivers.

Traffic signs should be installed in accordance of special rules that are not much respected by law enforcers. Signs should be installed in certain places based only on the resolutions passed by the local self-government and municipality board. The signs must be fixed in the places that are selected by the municipality board and not in the places that are selected by the patrol police.

In accordance with Article 22 of the Organic Law on Local Self Government, traffic movement (except international and interstate signs) shall be regulated by the municipality boards.

Revaz Gogiashvili, lawyer for the Gori Municipality Board, said: “Currently, 50% of the traffic signs in Gori are not legal and they are installed by patrol police intentionally. Consequently, people fined according to these illegal traffic signs are fined illegally. Those, who know the law, can appeal the decision and the court will cancel the fine.”

According to the Article 125 of the Administrative Code a driver is fined 10 GEL if s/he stops a car where there is that parking is prohibited.

Revaz Gogiashvili, who thinks the patrol police should have at least temporary permission to fine drivers, said: “The Municipality Board is entitled to draw up a protocol on the violation of the law. Instead, corresponding agencies of the local self-government; or authoritative private and legal persons are drawing up the protocol. Since we have not passed a resolution on the installment of these signs and have not authorized anyone to fine people, there is no legal basis to fine people pursuant to illegally installed traffic signs.”.

Patrol police have not applied to the Gori Municipality Board to legalize any of the traffic lights. The officials from the local self-government say they are going to invite transport engineers who will select the places for traffic signs even though the service of this commission is too expensive.

The State budget is being filled with the fines which are illegally imposed on drivers; whilst, law enforcers violate the law several times a day.

On the website of the Patrol Police you can read: Article 125. Violation of Traffic Rules by Drivers: “if a patrol policeman does not draw up a receipt for a fine on the violation of traffic rules at the place and the fact is recorded by the video or/and photo camera, the owner of the car shall be fined and will receive the fine-receipt at the address of his/her registration. According to Article 290, Part I, unless the person pays the fine within the specified time, the owner of the car shall be bailed according to the corresponding article. Unless the bail and the fine are paid within 30 days the car shall be sold in order to cover the bail.”

Evidently, patrol police define the law according to their own wish and cannot see the necessity to install the traffic sings based only on the municipality board in order to entitle the police to fine drivers.

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