Traffic tickets too high: Balykchy residents protest against unbearable fines

AKIPRESS.COM - People took to streets in Balykchy town in Issyk-Kul region to protest against the traffic tickets demanding authorities to decrease the fines.
Drivers gathered in front of the mayor's office met with mayor Marat Kudaibergenov to voice their demands.
Activist Tolkunbek Kojobekov said they want the fines to be decreased because they are too high.
"Ordinary citizens cannot pay such fines. For example, a school teacher has recently received a traffic ticket for 6000 soms after he went to Bishkek. This sum is too high for him, he must give his entire salary," he said.
He also believes that the speed radars are being installed illegally. "For example, Russia has its radar signs 300 meters before the radars. We don't have those signs," he said.
On September 25, the government of Kyrgyzstan said it supports the suggestion of the Interior Ministry to decrease the size of fines for moving offenses.
The size of fines were decreased from 3,000 soms to 1,000 soms for 8 types of traffic violations:
- failure to comply with requirements of traffic signs;
- failure to comply with requirements of road marking (except for the cases when drivers drive in a wrong lane);
- violation of the rules of stopping or parking;
- failure to comply with requirements of cautious distance;
- driving offenses on major highways;
- failure to comply with the requirements of the Road Traffic Regulations for stopping in front of a stop line marked by road signs or roadway markings when a traffic light signal or gesture is prohibited by the regulator
- violation of rules of overtaking or manoeuvring without driving into the oncoming traffic lane;
- violation of rules of using external lighting fixtures or warning signals.