Watch out: how to avoid being accused of a road accident
Swindlers "agree" to compensate for the damage and leave an accident site without calling the traffic police, but later they remain at the scene and call the police.
Drivers in Belarus risk to be deprived of the driving permit for two years and lose their money for a minor road accident, if they do not stay vigilant. For instance, you touched on a side mirrow of an approaching car, but decided not to call the traffic police patrol and resolve the problem peacefully: since the both drivers are to blame and the damage is minor, why call the police? Don't get surprised when you receive a notice after some time that you are found guilty of a road accident and you should pay a fine and your driving permit will be withdrawn. It turns out later that the other driver remained on the accident scene after you had left and called the traffic police.
Traffic police officials admit publically that such cases are not seldom. Vasil Bulbiankou, a deputy head of the traffic police department at the Interior Ministry of Belarus, says that even innocent drivers become guilty and are deprived of their driving permits in such cases.
"IF you feel that you have not reached a complete agreement, it is better not to try to agree but to call the police. This is a violation of the Administrative Code, so you will be penalized for the accident and for leaving the accident scene", a traffic police officer told the European Radio for Belarus.
Alexander Starchanka, the administrator of the people's web site STOP-GAI, also advises not to leave the accident site and wait for the police patrol in order to avoid being set up by swindlers.
"Don't leave the accident scene. Alternatively, you can try to get a written statement from the other driver that he has no claims against you following an incident on this and this street as no damage was made. You should not use the term "road accident", because it will mean that you are automatically guilty. Everyone is punished for leaving an accident scene".
But Volha Aminava from the traffic police's public information office doubts that a written statement might help.
"If there is a written statement, it may be treated as a document only if it is confirmed by a notary. The traffic police should definitely be called, otherwise one will have to pay a fine or be deprived of the driving permit for two years. But, if you call the police, you will just pay a fine for the accident but will remain with your permit".
Traffic police officials admit publically that such cases are not seldom. Vasil Bulbiankou, a deputy head of the traffic police department at the Interior Ministry of Belarus, says that even innocent drivers become guilty and are deprived of their driving permits in such cases.
"IF you feel that you have not reached a complete agreement, it is better not to try to agree but to call the police. This is a violation of the Administrative Code, so you will be penalized for the accident and for leaving the accident scene", a traffic police officer told the European Radio for Belarus.
Alexander Starchanka, the administrator of the people's web site STOP-GAI, also advises not to leave the accident site and wait for the police patrol in order to avoid being set up by swindlers.
"Don't leave the accident scene. Alternatively, you can try to get a written statement from the other driver that he has no claims against you following an incident on this and this street as no damage was made. You should not use the term "road accident", because it will mean that you are automatically guilty. Everyone is punished for leaving an accident scene".
But Volha Aminava from the traffic police's public information office doubts that a written statement might help.
"If there is a written statement, it may be treated as a document only if it is confirmed by a notary. The traffic police should definitely be called, otherwise one will have to pay a fine or be deprived of the driving permit for two years. But, if you call the police, you will just pay a fine for the accident but will remain with your permit".
