State Duma Approves Bill Reducing Driver Liability for Oversized or Overweight Trucks

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In the third reading, the State Duma approved a bill that removes liability from drivers who exceed vehicle dimensions or weight without special permission, according to TASS reporting.

The changes target Article 12.21.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The reform makes the owner of the vehicle the sole party responsible for violations related to the movement of heavy or oversized vehicles, effectively excluding drivers and other transportation personnel from liability in these cases.

The bill also lowers the maximum fine for this offense from 500,000 rubles to 400,000 rubles, with liability triggered when the vehicle exceeds its dimensions by more than 50 centimeters or the permitted weight by more than 50 percent.

Historically, in 2019 the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation held that a driver operates a truck under an employment contract with the owner and does not obtain ownership rights to the vehicle, a conclusion that preserves the employer’s risk for the cargo and the vehicle under transport law. This ruling underscores that the employer bears the primary risk associated with the transportation process.

Earlier reports noted customs officials and border guards detaining a heavy vehicle at the Kazakhstan–Russia border, which carried four tons of nasva, highlighting border enforcement efforts and the practical challenges of cross-border cargo management.

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