Since July 13, authorities in Sofia have inspected 154 heavy-duty vehicles as part of a joint operation between the Ministry of Interior and the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration.” Commissioner Martin Tsurinski reported that the initiative, launched in response to an increase in serious traffic accidents, has already resulted in 10 administrative violation acts and 58 penalty slips for various infractions.
Enforcement Actions on Heavy-Duty Traffic
The inspections have uncovered significant safety violations among commercial drivers. On July 14, police stopped a driver on Botevgradsko Shose who was operating a vehicle despite having lost his license due to the exhaustion of all control points. Records for this individual show a history of 37 acts and 98 penalty slips. The following day, on the same road, another driver was found to be operating a heavy vehicle with 0.67 per mille of alcohol in their breath.
Commissioner Tsurinski noted that most penalty slips issued during the operation involve minor infractions, such as mobile phone use, failure to wear seatbelts, and missing documentation for technical inspections. Additionally, four trucks have been suspended from service due to technical defects. In these cases, authorities remove the vehicle’s registration plates and documentation. Owners are required to install new components, such as tires, and pass a technical inspection at a traffic police facility before the vehicles are permitted to return to the road.
Did You Know?
The joint operation utilizes a multi-agency approach, combining the resources of the Ministry of Interior and the “Automobile Administration” to apply a broad preventive effect on driver behavior.
Crackdown on Electric Scooter Violations
Beyond heavy transport, the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior conducted a dedicated operation targeting electric scooter riders yesterday, between 14:00 and 22:00. During this window, 280 scooters were inspected. Commissioner Tsurinski confirmed that every single rider checked was in violation of traffic regulations, leading to 299 penalty slips and 12 administrative acts issued to over 390 individuals.
The primary infractions identified during the scooter operation included carrying more than one person, failure to wear protective helmets, and operating outside of designated areas. As the police continue their focus on heavy-duty traffic through the coming week, they expect to maintain pressure on violations involving alcohol, drug use, and resting time requirements for commercial drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
[What is the primary goal of the ongoing police operations?]
The operations aim to enforce the Road Traffic Act, improve driver behavior, and address the increase in serious accidents by conducting high-visibility checks on both heavy-duty vehicles and electric scooters.
[What happens to a truck that is stopped for technical defects?]
Authorities seize the registration plates and vehicle documentation. The operator must resolve the mechanical issues—such as replacing worn tires—and then pass a technical inspection at a traffic police station before the truck can be returned to service.
[What were the most common violations found among scooter riders?]
The most frequent violations included riding with more than one person on a single scooter, failing to wear helmets, and driving in unauthorized areas.
How do you think these combined enforcement efforts will affect road safety in the city?
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