Belarus traffic police officers have cash restrictions when on duty

“When they are on duty, traffic police inspectors are allowed to carry cash in the amount of one basic rate,” Yury Litvin, the Chief of Belarus Road Police.

At the same time, nobody checks how much cash an inspector possesses after the end of the shift. Yury Litvin explains that if drivers file a complaint about a certain inspector, he will be scrutinized.

“It makes no sense to monitor and search an officer, because we trust our personnel. It wouldn’t be right to search an inspector, like any other person, without a reason. But if we have any suspicions, we can do it in accordance with the law”.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has attached a certain traffic police officer to a particular road stretch across the country. Internet users immediately began discussions over how inspectors are going to share the most lucrative locations. Yury Litvin explained the European Radio for Belarus that traffic police inspectors will carry out almost the same functions like their colleagues in the cities or villages.

“Our road patrol deals with road accidents and crimes on the road. Therefore, they are not always able to cover a certain territory in detail. In this case, he will be responsible for a concrete stretch. Since you are in charge, you have to make sure that traffic conditions are conducive for drivers”.

However, there is one road in Minsk – Independence Avenue -- which is monitored by the same traffic police inspectors. Yury Litvin explains:

“You have to understand that this is the main avenue in the country’s capital. You can see that it is very congested. To eliminate traffic jams, we have decided to assign permanent officers,” Belarus traffic police chief told the European Radio for Belarus.