TURKMENISTAN: A WORRISOME SUMMER FOR ASHGABAT DRIVERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000879

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: A WORRISOME SUMMER FOR ASHGABAT DRIVERS


1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In June, Turkmen authorities put a network of
traffic monitoring cameras into operation throughout Ashgabat.
Since the authorities did not provide citizens with advance notice
about the system and its consequences, a large number of fines were
suddenly being issued for traffic violations. These fines serve as
an additional source of government revenue. However, the high cost
of the fines and the frequency with which they are being issued has
caused grumbling among Ashgabat drivers. This is especially true now
that the authorities have decided to withhold free gas coupons to
citizens with outstanding traffic fines. As a result, Ashgabat
drivers are becoming more cautious about traffic violations, and
pedestrians say they feel much safer moving about the city on foot.
END SUMMARY.

TRAFFIC MONITORING CAMERAS


3. (SBU) Russian VOCORD traffic monitoring systems, installed over
major thoroughfares throughout Ashgabat started functioning in June.
The devices consist of a high-resolution digital camera,
speed-detecting radar, a PAL-video camera, infrared pulse
floodlights, and a specialized server and software for data
collection and analysis. The system allows for round-the-clock
automated street monitoring, and is able to recognize and photograph
license plates, traffic violations, accidents and traffic jams, as
well as collect traffic flow statistics. Once collected, the data
is broadcast to an observation center of the Interior Ministry's
Traffic Police Department. The new system was not announced in the
media or elsewhere, and Ashgabat residents learned of its existence
only when traffic police started issuing fines. Fine notifications
are mailed to drivers' home addresses, with a photograph of their
vehicle, license plate number, a description of their alleged
traffic violation, and the bill for the infraction.

NO FREE GAS COUPONS FOR DELINQUENT MOTORISTS


4. (SBU) The authorities have started withholding free gas coupons
from drivers until they pay outstanding traffic fines. Beginning in
late June, they began distributing the coupons for the second half
of 2009 to all registered vehicle owners. This time, however, in
order to receive the coupons, residents must first settle all
outstanding traffic fines. If the traffic police computer system
shows a prior traffic violation for speeding, for example, the
violator is sent to his community police unit to receive a fine
notification print-out. After paying the fine to a bank, they must
show their receipt to the traffic police unit stationed at the bank
where the gas coupons are being distributed so that a unit officer
can note the payment and authorize disbursement of the gas coupons.
According to one Ashgabat resident, "It was not easy to get my fine
notification for driving 11 kilometers/hour over the speed limit
because at my community police unit, after checking piles of fine
notifications, the police officer told me that my notification had
not yet arrived from the Traffic Police headquarters. He told me to
come back in a few days. I did not get it until five days later,
which delayed my receipt of the gas coupons." The government has
apparently found that linking fine payments to the gas coupons
ensures that they are paid.

NEW SOURCE OF GOVERNMENT INCOME


5. (SBU) The minimum fine for speeding is 25 manats, about $9; for
talking on a cell phone while driving the fine is around 280 manats,
or $100. It should be noted that the fine, according to
Turkmenistan's Code of Administrative Violations, must be paid
within 15 days from the date the notification is presented to the
driver, otherwise the fine goes up by 20 percent. One traffic
police officer we spoke with said that about 50,000 fines were
issued in June alone. At that rate, even with minimal fines
imposed, the 45 cameras will have paid for themselves in short
order. One Ashgabat taxi driver we spoke with said, "The government
has found another way to rip people off."


6. (SBU) A number of drivers have received more than one

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notification. As another taxi driver opined, "Of course they (the
government) didn't notify anyone in advance (about putting the
traffic monitoring system into operation). It's not in their
interest to do so. If they did so, people would be more cautions
and the police would collect fewer fines, which would mean less
money for them." Many taxi drivers rent their cars from someone
else, in which case, the traffic violation and fine would end up
going to the wrong person.

CAUTIOUS DRIVERS


7. (SBU) The installation of the cameras and imposition of fines has
caused disgruntlement. Another driver said, "First they
(government) increased the price of gas and now, instead of fixing
the roads, they install cameras to make driving more expensive."
Knowing that radar cameras can detect speeding at a distance of 50
meters or less, drivers routinely watch their speedometers when
approaching the radars. Since the radars were installed, the number
of traffic police officers in Ashgabat streets has decreased
noticeably, now they are only seen in areas that do not have
cameras. The city's pedestrians are happy about the monitoring
system. One pedestrian said, "With so many unruly drivers in
Ashgabat, having cameras on the streets will lower the number of
accidents and deaths." Another positive aspect that some have noted
is that "everyone is equal before the cameras, whether one is an
ordinary citizen or even a policeman: Everyone pays the same fine,
no excuses."


8. (SBU) COMMENT: The new traffic cameras in Ashgabat has caused
discontent among many drivers because of the fines being imposed and
the bureaucratic hassles with trying to prove payment of them. The
authorities, however, see a number of benefits, including reduced
traffic violations, increased revenues, and dispensing with the need
for manual tickets issued by traffic police. Some have suggested
that the new revenues being collected from the fines to repair roads
and infrastructure in Ashgabat and the surrounding areas. END
COMMENT.

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