The Volgograd court viewed the tinted license plates as counterfeit and handed down a punishment that hit the driver where it hurts most: a suspension of the license and a fine amounting to 30,000 rubles. The case illustrates how seriously authorities treat altered or falsified vehicle registration marks, especially when those changes are designed to mislead or bypass the law. In practical terms, this means that anyone operating a vehicle with irregular or distorted registration identifiers should expect a potentially severe penalty, including the revocation of driving privileges and a financial penalty that can strain personal finances on short notice.
According to the Supreme Court, any registration marks that have been altered in a way that changes the original characters should be treated as false. This includes distortions caused by extrusion, the deliberate removal or alteration of numbers, repainting, or other methods that effectively bend the truth of what was originally stamped onto the plate. The essence of this interpretation is straightforward: if the symbols no longer reflect their original form, the marks lose their legitimacy and become prosecutable as false registrations. The court’s reasoning underscores a simple principle for drivers: integrity in the appearance of registration plates matters—and it matters a lot.
More precisely, the issue falls under part 2 of article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which addresses intentional amendments. The law makes clear that the critical factor is the intent to deceive or to alter the prescribed identifiers. If the authorities can demonstrate that the symbols remain the same and still conform to the GOST standard, there may be room to avoid punishment. In other words, the appearance alone isn’t always enough to convict; the key questions revolve around authenticity and conformity to established standards. This creates a narrow window where, if plate design and characters are verified to match the official templates, harsher penalties might be averted, though the burden of proof lies on the offender and the prosecution must show that the changes were not merely cosmetic but constitutive of misrepresentation.
To minimize risk and maintain a trouble-free status, many motorists consider obtaining duplicates of worn plates. In practice, this option can help ensure that all registration marks are clear, legible, and compliant with current regulations. The traffic police portal maintains an updated directory of organizations authorized to manufacture or replace plates, providing motorists with a legitimate path to replace damaged or faded numbers. By choosing reputable and approved issuers, drivers can reduce the chance of penalties that arise from questionable plate condition or questionable alterations. This approach aligns with the broader principle of proactive compliance, which emphasizes using official channels and verified standards to maintain road legality and avoid run-ins with the law.
Source: AiF
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