Police Officer Says, 'I Can't Stop Every Single Person to Fine Them': Artak Gaboyan

The police do not realize the importance of their work. This was stated by civil activist Artak Gaboyan during a public discussion on the topic of 'The Role of the Police in Ensuring Road Traffic Safety'.

He noted that a few years ago, any driver in Armenia who did not buckle their seatbelt would start to do so as soon as they crossed into Georgia's borders. 'Because there was a police force there that monitored it, but here, there isn’t. Many police officers do not understand the importance of their job. When I tell a police officer that it's his fault people are not buckling up, he replies, 'I can’t stop every single person to fine them.'

Gaboyan also highlighted the issue of police officers ignoring minor offenses. 'For example, vehicles at intersections do not maintain a five-meter distance or stop in front of crosswalks, blocking visibility, yet no driver gets fined for this,' he said.