10 Times Greater Fine for Not Using Winter Tires

The government today made a decision that winter drivers using summer tires will be fined 5,000 drams. If an accident occurs involving such vehicles, the fine will increase to 20,000 drams.

During the government meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan stated that the next decision will aim to tighten penalties for drivers using non-winter tires in relation to mandatory insurance and vehicle inspections. He deemed the 5,000 dram fine as insufficient.

“This regulation won't work with such symbolic fines. If such a vehicle is involved in an accident in winter, I believe the next insurance premium should be 10 times higher than the standard. Unless we increase the pressure of insurance mechanisms alongside these regulations, considering the traditions, people will simply wait for the act. Especially if the danger is a 5,000 dram fine, I fear they will wait for the fine rather than comply with the requirement. This is a very serious issue, as it concerns the property rights and life of third parties. Not changing tires in winter is akin to manslaughter,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan also reported that this year the Ministry of Internal Affairs has implemented an online recording system where after every vehicle accident, the police upload such information into the system that will allow us to subsequently identify when and under what circumstances the accident occurred. “That will take time, and we decided we won’t wait for it,” he added.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asked about the cost of winter tires and was informed that it is approximately 30,000 drams.