Some traffic monitoring devices may face removal as authorities tighten the rules governing cameras used to photo and video record traffic violations, according to an article in Kommersant. The report notes that the shift is part of a broader push to modernize how road safety infractions are captured and reviewed, a change that could affect fleets of cameras already in operation across regions.
In a milestone move, the Ministry of Transport unveiled the final draft of new guidelines at a session of the Road Safety working group, framed within the wider regulatory reform program often described as a regulatory guillotine. The document indicates that the rules are poised to take effect on September 1 and signals a significant shift in how surveillance equipment is described and measured. In its third iteration, the ministry has dropped the earlier plan to levy fines solely for exceeding speeds shown on dynamic highway boards. Instead, it has reclassified the GOST from 2016 into a mandatory standard that sets explicit technical requirements for measurement accuracy, the handling of photographic and video materials, and the overall configuration of cameras and related components.
Industry representatives from several regional associations that install traffic cameras acknowledged that a number of devices currently in use do not meet this revised standard. They note that gaps between existing installations and the new mandatory criteria could trigger a wave of updates or replacements, affecting municipalities and private contractors alike. The changes emphasize verifiable accuracy, consistent data capture, and reliable storage and retrieval of evidence, while also aligning with wider efforts to harmonize traffic enforcement practices across jurisdictions.
Historically, enforcement agencies have occasionally encountered instances where unlicensed operators or improperly calibrated devices produced questionable results, prompting concerns from citizens and oversight bodies. The new framework aims to address these issues by introducing clearer licensing requirements, more stringent calibration protocols, and transparent reporting practices. In related developments, earlier incidents in Bashkiria involved the temporary detention of drivers following citizen alerts, illustrating the ongoing tension between public oversight, lawful enforcement, and rapid technological adoption. The shift toward standardized equipment and accountable procedures is positioned as a step toward greater reliability in traffic surveillance, with implications that extend beyond the immediate region to other countries evaluating similar modernization efforts.