A renewed bill from Vladislav Davankov, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma, has been forwarded to the government for approval. The proposal seeks to abolish fines for drivers who forget their driver’s licenses, a move described by TASS as a follow-up to an earlier submission to the Council of Ministers in spring 2023.
The explanatory note for the draft adds new requirements: a vehicle registration document for cars bearing foreign-state plates, proof of foreign driver’s licenses validating the right to drive, and evidence of a compulsory liability insurance policy for vehicle owners.
The rationale stems from gaps in the GIS database regarding foreign driving permits. Without data on foreign licenses, it becomes impossible to verify such documents when a person is driving without their own license.
Currently, a driver who has obtained a license but still drives without presenting the license or certificate may face a 500 ruble fine under Part 2 of Article 12.3 of the Administrative Code.
Late last year, the public service platform State Services Auto introduced a feature enabling electronic submission of a driver’s license to the traffic police. The system allows the driver’s license image, along with the driver’s photo, to be uploaded automatically from the traffic police database. A QR code can display these items along with the vehicle registration document for quick verification, although officers retain the right to request the original documents in person.
Earlier reports also noted proposals to shorten the validity period of licenses for older drivers in Russia.
Note: All information reflects official statements and media reports as cited in contemporary coverage.