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The Ministry of Emergencies announced planned enforcement actions aimed at drivers heading onto Baikal ice outside designated crossings, according to officials from the Main Directorate of the Ministry in the Irkutsk region.

Starting March 4, mobile checkpoints will be set up at the most frequented recreation spots on Lake Baikal. The stated goal is to deter unlawful activity and reduce crime in these popular areas. At the Olkhon crossing, authorities plan to install video surveillance to monitor vehicles leaving the official ice route and ensure compliance with allowed paths.

Officials also pledged to keep an eye on social networks to identify violators and take appropriate legal steps. The attention of the public safety agencies has been drawn to recent posts on the Telegram channel Babr Mash, which highlighted risky ice travel. One clip showed three UAZ vehicles navigating the ice, including a vehicle with an ax mounted on its roof, drawing further scrutiny from authorities.

Subsequent reports mentioned an incident with a rented Hyundai Creta on the ice. Passengers managed to exit the vehicle safely, but the incident underscored the dangers of moving across the lake ice. Babr Mash notes that fines are imposed for ice travel violations, with penalties for individuals ranging from 3,000 to 4,500 rubles and penalties for companies from 200,000 to 400,000 rubles, depending on the violation and circumstances. This information reflects the enforcement framework cited by official channels and corroborated by public safety communications. (attribution: official safety notices and local media summaries)