The Saeima has decided to act much more harshly against drivers who significantly exceed the permitted driving speed. Statistics show that 71% of drivers do not observe speed limits outside of built-up areas. Consequently, Latvia stands out as a particularly unsafe place for road users.
From now on, speeding outside of built-up areas by 61 to 70 kilometers per hour will be subject to a fine of 720 to 960 euros, which is double the current amount, and a ban on using the driver’s license for nine months instead of the previous six months.
Fines have also been increased in cases where the driving speed will be exceeded by more than 70 kilometers per hour. Also, harsher penalties will be imposed for grossly exceeding the speed limit in built-up areas.
These changes were adopted without debate in the final reading. However, the discussion was sparked by the proposal of deputy Gunārs Kūtras to punish only the owner of the car, not the driver, for driving without the mandatory civil law vehicle insurance, if someone else sits at the wheel: “The principle must be observed that in this case the civil law mandatory insurance applies to the owner. Therefore, in my opinion, the driver is not punished, the owner is punished, similar to the case of failure to pass a technical inspection. And I will call for support for my proposal.”
The idea was supported by a third of the deputies, but the majority was against such changes.
“There are two persons – the owner and the manager. The driver is responsible for the fact that he decided to drive the vehicle without OCTA, the owner is responsible for the fact that he allowed this situation, that he allowed the other person to drive,” says Andrejs Yudins (JV), head of the Legal Commission of the Saeima.
“In my opinion, it is too irresponsible to remove this responsibility from everyday practice,” MP Andris Kulbergs (AS) believes.
In connection with the mandatory insurance, other changes have been introduced, which will come into force from next year. If it is recorded that there are cars in traffic that do not have insurance or have expired technical inspection, the car owner will be informed immediately. And the punishment for such a violation will be applied no more often than once in 24 hours, and not an unlimited number of times as at present.
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