False information about the supposed strengthening of penalties for the absence of mandatory safety equipment in vehicles is spreading on social networks and some media. The Ministry of Internal Affairs officially labeled these reports as fake.
First Deputy Head of the Patrol Police Department Alexey Biloshitsky categorically denied the information about the introduction of new fines for the absence of a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, or emergency stop sign in the trunk of the car.
'There are no new fines - this is a fake,' Biloshitsky said in his official statement.
False theses and their refutations
Fake thesis #1: 'The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced an increase in control'
Refutation: The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not made any official statements about increasing control over vehicle equipment. The requirements for the presence of mandatory safety equipment remain unchanged.
Fake thesis #2: 'Updated requirements for equipment'
Refutation: No updates to the requirements have occurred. Traffic rules remain unchanged.
Fake thesis #3: 'Different fines for different categories of drivers'
Refutation: Although there are fines for the absence of mandatory safety equipment, their amounts remain the same.
Fake thesis #4: 'Possible deprivation of rights for 6 months or arrest for up to 10 days'
Refutation: Deprivation of driver's rights or administrative arrest is not provided for the absence of a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, or emergency stop sign.
Fake thesis #5: 'Daily raid checks as a new initiative'
Refutation: Checks for vehicle completeness have always been within the competence of the police.
The real situation with fines
According to representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the sanctions for violations in the field of vehicle equipment remain unchanged.
According to current legislation, the following must be mandatory in the car:
- First aid kit with the designation of the type of vehicle
- Emergency stop sign or flashing red light
- Functional fire extinguisher
In case of absence of these items, the driver may be fined under Article 121 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the amount of the fine is 340 hryvnias for owners of private cars.
True information about fines for seat belts
For violation of the rules for using seat belts, a fine of 510 hryvnias is indeed provided for the driver and passengers.
This fine amounts to 30 tax-free minimums of citizens' income.
Advice for drivers
Experts advise checking the presence of all mandatory safety equipment in the vehicle, monitoring the expiration date of medications in the first aid kit, checking the functionality of the fire extinguisher, using seat belts, and controlling their use by passengers.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs urges to verify information from official sources before spreading it. Disinformation about new fines can lead to panic among drivers, so it is important to trust only official sources.
It is important to understand that the information about changes and tightening of fines for the absence of mandatory safety equipment in vehicles, spread by some media and social networks, is false. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has denied these rumors and emphasized that fines for violations in this area remain at the same level. Therefore, it is recommended to verify information only from official sources and trust reality to avoid unnecessary anxiety and panic among drivers.