The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Russia is considering a new authority for traffic police to revoke identification cards that certify a vehicle has passed the technical inspection. This development, reported by the newspaper Kommersant, signals a shift in enforcement powers aimed at tightening control over inspection documentation.
A draft government ordinance is being prepared by the police department to empower investigators to remove an identification card within five days of discovering a counterfeit card or another violation. This action could be taken even if no lawsuit has yet been filed against the operator responsible for the inspection. The proposed rule seeks to expedite consequences for fake documents and reduce delays in the enforcement process.
Current rules require vehicles that pass a technical inspection to have diagnostic photographs documenting the check. A specialist must be present in the frame to verify the instrument used during the inspection. Fraudsters sometimes forge cards and manipulate images using software like Photoshop, then upload the falsified documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Unified Information System for Technical Inspection. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the inspection system and poses a risk to road safety and regulatory compliance.
When a traffic police officer identifies fake MOT documents, the officer currently has the authority to revoke the card. However, inspectors must wait for administrative action or a court decision against the inspection operator before any decisive removal can occur. Officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that this delay can hinder rapid responses to violations, allowing potentially unsafe vehicles to remain on public roads longer than is prudent.
This approach contrasts with the practical realities of enforcing vehicle safety standards. By granting inspectors a faster mechanism to invalidate fraudulent documentation, authorities aim to close loopholes that criminals exploit and improve the overall reliability of the inspection system. The broader objective is to ensure that every vehicle on the road carries legitimate, verifiable documentation and that enforcement actions keep pace with evolving schemes to defeat the system. At the same time, industry stakeholders are watching how these proposed rules might affect operating procedures, administrative processes, and the balance between rapid action and due process.
Earlier reports indicated that insurance providers warned about the high costs associated with abbreviated or “short” OSAGO policies, emphasizing the broader financial risks tied to rapid enforcement changes and the potential impact on compliance incentives for vehicle owners and operators.