The diagnostic card held by vehicle owners does not shield them from fines for technical issues that a traffic police inspector can spot. In some situations, a car may even face repossession due to violations found during checks.
Three common reasons a driver can be fined on the road, even if the vehicle has passed a technical inspection and the driver has shown responsible behavior behind the wheel.
1. A nonfunctional or missing headlight. This can result in a 500 ruble fine unless the inspector is convinced that the driver is heading to the nearest safe location to fix the problem and the headlight has either ceased to emit light or was recently damaged (stolen).
2. By rule, headlights or daytime running lights must be on whenever the vehicle is in motion, a requirement stated in Article 19.5 of the SDA. Failure to comply can lead to a 500 ruble fine: during daylight hours all moving vehicles must use dipped beam or daytime running lights to ensure visible identification on the road.
3. Excessive tinting of the windshield and side windows when light transmission drops below sixty to seventy percent. To assess light transmission, the inspector uses a specialized device. The penalties for excessive tinting include a 500 ruble fine, and if the tint is not removed within ten days after the inspection, the driver can face up to fifteen days of detention. Further considerations and procedural details regarding tint measurements are available in the referenced guidance on this topic.