Vehicles registered abroad whose drivers commit traffic violations will not be allowed to depart from Russia. This stance was articulated by Mikhail Chernikov, the head of the traffic police, and was reported by TASS.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, the traffic police have prepared a draft law that would bar foreign-registered cars with recorded traffic violations from crossing Russia’s state borders. Chernikov indicated that such vehicles would be detained in the penalty area. He noted that the State Duma had approved the bill at its first reading and that the scope would later extend to private vehicles, including passenger cars.
“For some reason, our guests arriving in cars registered in another country operate with impunity and without restraint,” the traffic police chief remarked, underlining the challenge that current enforcement tools face. He stressed that using automated video recording systems has proven insufficient to hold foreign-registered drivers accountable within the Russian federation, complicating efforts to address violations tied to non-resident motorists.
Chernikov also referenced a forthcoming resolution designed in consultation with the Ministry of Transport. The plan would permit drivers to present their driving licenses and vehicle registrations electronically, streamlining the process and reducing friction when crossing checkpoints. This electronic approach aims to modernize proof of eligibility and help ensure that offenders cannot simply evade penalties by presenting mismatched documents at a border post. The move signals a broader shift toward digital verification for all foreign-registered vehicles and underscores the government’s intent to tighten borders for violators while preserving orderly travel and law enforcement integrity.