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Friday 19th of April 2024, 16:43 CET |
| Romanian drivers protest increased fines |
March 13, 2003
Associated Press
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Posted by HW on April 19, 2024
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Protests disrupt traffic
About 1,500 taxi, bus and truck drivers brought their vehicles to the capital's city center Thursday to protest a recent increase in traffic fines.
The column of vehicles disrupted traffic before dispersing after 2 hours. There were smaller protests in three other Romanian cities.
Hundreds of drivers protested in the city of Brasov, in Transylvania, the eastern port of Galati and the southern city of Craiova.
Maximum fine: USD 245
Some traffic offenses were recently increased to up to 8 million lei (US$245), with the highest fine given to drunk drivers with an blood-alcohol content higher than 0.079, drivers who are driving well over the speed limit or whose vehicles have broken brakes.
Average wage: USD 130
The previous highest fine was 6 million lei (US$183). The Romanian average monthly wage is 4.7 million lei (US$130).
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The drivers argued the top fine ought to be no larger than a quarter of the average monthly salary.
Traffic code
The demonstration also protested other recent changes to the traffic code, which now allows any police officer to stop and fine drivers, regardless of which department they work in.
Victor Stan, the leader of the professional drivers' union, said he delivered a list with the union's demands to the government on Thursday.
2,000 deaths each year
More than 2,000 people die each year on Romania's roads and more than 5,000 are seriously injured, according to police statistics. |
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