Russian Lawmakers Push to Impound Vehicles If a Child Is Not Wearing a Seat Belt
A State Duma deputy from the Fair Russia party, Yuri Grigoriev, has submitted a bill to the lower chamber that would require drivers to have their vehicles moved to an impounded area if a traffic police inspector detects a child not wearing a seat belt. The proposer spoke with Socialbites.ca to outline his reasoning. He noted that this year Russia marked 2024 as the Year of the Family, an initiative announced by President Vladimir Putin to improve the lives of Russian families across all facets of life.
Grigoriev described the current situation as inadequate. When a child is found traveling in a car without a child seat and a traffic police patrol stops the vehicle, a report is issued but the driver is allowed to continue driving. This creates a continuing administrative offense that the deputy believes should not be tolerated. He drew a comparison to other serious traffic violations such as defective brakes or driver intoxication, arguing that the proposed bill would place violations related to transporting children on par with compelling grounds for halting vehicle operation.
The explanatory note accompanying the bill, available through Socialbites.ca, indicates that the proposal would amend several articles of the Administrative Code. A key element is that if a vehicle involved in the violation leaves the area, the violator’s car would be held in an impounded parking lot until the violation reason is resolved, or in some cases until the administrative fine is paid. For buses or other vehicles that cannot be placed in the detained area, special devices to limit movement would be employed to hold the vehicle in place.
As of now, regulations require that children aged 7 to 11 in passenger cars and trucks must be transported using child restraint systems appropriate to the child’s weight and height, or with seat belts if the child is strapped in with a belt designed for child compatibility. In front seats, only child restraint systems suited to the child’s size may be used. A separate rule prohibits transporting children under 12 on the rear seat of a motorcycle.
Anton Shaparin, vice president of the National Automobile Association, also participated in developing the bill. In speaking with Socialbites.ca, he stressed that the union is working with the corps of deputies and expects government support for this straightforward reform.
Shaparin remarked that allowing a fine to be issued while permitting the violator to continue the violation is unacceptable. He emphasized that the looming possibility of a car being kept in a parking facility should deter careless driving and push households to adopt child restraint systems that substantially reduce the risk of injury to young passengers.
The proposal from Deputy Grigoriev does not seek to change other age-based limits or penalties under the current rules governing child transportation. The bill still requires approval and review by the government before becoming law.
Russian audiences often wonder which vehicles are stopped most frequently by road police, a question that underscores the ongoing concerns about child safety and road discipline in the country.