The proposal from Anton Shaparin, deputy chairman of the National Automobile Union, to appoint the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation to operate all traffic police information systems has sparked broad discussion. He spoke to socialbites.ca about ongoing failures in Russia’s traffic police information databases and the consequences for citizens and public services. Attribution: source discussion with Anton Shaparin reported by socialbites.ca.
According to Shaparin, the core issue is not the people who work with the systems but the tasks themselves. He argued that a shoemaker should mend shoes, an IT specialist should steward information systems, and a police officer should enforce the law—not manage intricate electronic infrastructures. With that logic, he recommended transferring responsibility for the traffic police information systems to the Ministry of Digital Development. He stressed that the experts who truly understand these systems are the ones who can operate and maintain them effectively, and this reassignment would reduce disruptions that occur when non-specialists intervene. Attribution: Shaparin remarks on the need for specialized expertise in national IT governance.
The morning of December 12 brought a concrete reminder of the fragility of public digital services in the capital. Moscow’s traffic police reported a technical malfunction affecting information resources, which temporarily halted the issuance of vehicle registrations and driver licenses at the capital’s State Traffic Inspectorate units. This outage disrupted routine administrative processes and highlighted the vulnerability of online services that many rely on daily. Attribution: Moscow traffic police outage report for December 12.
Shaparin’s assessment points to a recurring pattern of fundamental failures within the State Traffic Inspectorate, noting that malfunctions have occurred every two to three months, and sometimes even more frequently. He also observed a lack of engagement among drivers with official traffic police news and press releases before they travel, which can lead to chaotic conditions at registration and examination facilities when large volumes of people arrive expecting service. Attribution: recurring failure patterns and driver behavior observations cited by Shaparin.
The broader concern raised is how to minimize service disruptions and ensure reliable public access to essential mobility-related processes. If information systems are centralized under a ministry with specialized digital governance, proponents argue, there could be clearer accountability, more consistent maintenance regimes, and better incident response protocols. Yet opponents warn of centralization risks, including bureaucratic rigidity and delays in deploying urgent fixes. Attribution: policy and governance implications discussed by stakeholders.
Looking ahead, a balanced approach may involve reinforcing the current management with targeted IT governance reforms rather than a wholesale transfer of responsibility. Possible steps include implementing standardized data protocols, improving system redundancy, increasing transparency around outage timelines, and establishing rapid response teams that can restore services without long interruptions. Public confidence hinges on timely, accurate updates and predictable service restoration. Attribution: proposed mitigations and governance considerations from policy discussions.
In any scenario, the goal remains clear: keep vital public services accessible and dependable for drivers and residents, while ensuring that the people accountable for these systems have the necessary expertise and authority. The conversation about the best organizational model continues, drawing attention to the intersection of public administration, information technology, and everyday life on the road. Attribution: ongoing policy dialogue around IT governance and public service reliability.