[size=75:226qrp81]Sofia echo 24 December 2009

Bulgaria's Cabinet approves changes to Road Traffic Act

Bulgaria's Cabinet has approved amendments to the Road Traffic Act aimed against fraudulent issuing of driving licences and roadworthy certificates.

Transport Minister Aleksander Tsvetkov told journalists that every year in Bulgaria, about 15 000 people get driving licences without sitting the required written examination or even without putting in the regulation number of hours with a driving instructor.

Motor vehicles get roadworthy certificates without having undergone proper tests, in some cases with inspectors accepting money to issue the certificate without even having seen the vehicle.

Penalties for illegally issuing driving licences or roadworthy certificates will include fines of up to 5000 leva and withdrawal of licences to conduct such tests.

Written examinations will be recorded on camera, and web cameras will be installed for use during driving licence practical examinations.

Records of roadworthy tests will have to be kept in an electronic register, to be available for investigation if required.

Tsvetkov said that introducing the use of electronic surveillance of driving tests and vehicle inspections would mean that there would be no need to increase the fees for driving tests and roadworthy check-ups.

He was confident that the new measures, which will be tabled in Parliament for approval, would substantially reduce abuses, Tsvetkov said.