The road camera reform, launched in September 2024, has not led to significant changes in the automated violation recording system.
Despite the new legal requirements, the number of cameras in Russian regions has remained almost at the same level. The main reason is that the regions simply moved the cameras to new locations or re-documented them in order to continue using them for issuing fines.
The law "On Highways and Road Activities" (197-FZ), which came into force in September 2024, established new rules for the placement of cameras and restricted regions' access to violation data. However, in some areas the number of cameras has even increased, while in others they have been moved. For example, in Moscow and the Moscow region, the number of complexes has not changed, while in some regions, such as the Chelyabinsk region and the Krasnodar Territory, the number of cameras has increased.
At the same time, not all cameras are actively involved in the process of punishing offenders. For example, in Primorye, only 104 out of 238 cameras are working. In the Perm Territory, some cameras are used for monitoring, but not for issuing fines.
In addition, local authorities are expressing dissatisfaction due to the complexity of the process of approving the installation of new cameras and restrictions on their placement. Some regions propose to restore the possibility of using cameras to monitor traffic flow and install them in places where there are no official "hotspots of accidents" yet.
The issue of how to use the funds from fines is also being discussed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has proposed to enshrine in law that all income from fines should be directed to improving road safety, and not to cover the expenses of commercial organizations involved in the operation of cameras.
Thus, despite the changes in legislation, the automated violation recording system still raises questions and needs further improvement.
