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Published: March 16, 2019
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Both drivers and pedestrians are required to follow traffic rules. However, not everyone strictly follows the law, and the traffic police are not able to keep track of everything. Anyone can report a violation, because concern for general safety directly concerns everyone.
Later in the article you will be able to read exactly how this can be done: how and where to file an application for a traffic violation, how to properly file it so that the culprit is punished. Remember that your timely intervention, even on a seemingly insignificant matter, can prevent a serious accident in the future.
- Where can I send information about traffic violations?
- What should be included in a violation report? What materials are evidence?
- How to take a photo of a violation
- Are eyewitness videos punishable?
- Sample of a written complaint about a traffic violation
- Violation of the statute of limitations
What should be included in a violation report?
Each request must be verified. But there are a number of formal requirements for accepting an application. Regardless of the form of submission, the required points are as follows:
- Last name, first name of the applicant, patronymic, if any, return address (postal or email)
- A clearly formulated essence of the appeal.
Your application must be registered within 3 days, and you can require the inspectorate to provide a number so that you can track the progress of the case. The review itself takes up to 30 days. The verification process is much simpler and more effective if evidence is immediately attached to the eyewitness’s statement.
What materials are evidence?
Photo and video materials that clearly demonstrate the violation committed are considered sufficient evidence. Both footage taken from a mobile phone and dashcam evidence are suitable. But they are valid only if they meet the following requirements:
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- You can read the registration plate of an offending vehicle
- It is clear and unambiguous that a violation has been committed.
How to take a photo of a violation
Let's look at examples. If you take a photograph of a stationary car under a “no stopping and parking” sign, then in one photo you should clearly see the car with license plates, the prohibiting sign, and you should be able to accurately assess their relative position. If all elements are captured separately, a single picture will not emerge.
For example, even if you film a driver talking on a mobile phone while driving, it will not be clear whether he was driving or standing. Therefore, photography is not suitable for recording all violations. Usually it is used only to confirm illegal parking.
Video is more universal, as it covers the situation in dynamics. However, the requirements remain the same.
Additional benefits will include GPS marks on the exact time and location of the shooting. If your recording device has this feature, it's best to turn it on before taking photos or videos.
Are eyewitness videos punishable?
This question arises for most witnesses to violations, so let's figure it out. The law clearly states that statements from citizens containing information about an administrative offense committed are grounds for initiating a case (COAP of the Russian Federation, Article 28.1, paragraph 3).
However, it is worth remembering that this does not mean punishment. Each request must be verified. Only if the investigation confirms the driver’s guilt will he be held accountable and receive a fine. Therefore, you should carefully consider collecting materials that confirm your words.
We report violations ourselves
The violation should be recorded using a photo or video camera . Video footage from the recorder is excellent evidence of the offense committed. If a motorist violates the rules of stopping or parking, his car can be captured from any angle.
The following factors need to be considered:
- In photographs or video materials, license plates must be clearly visible. So the inspectors will correctly issue a fine in the name of the actual car owner.
- The fact of the violation must also be clearly visible. If the driver stops the car where there is a prohibitory sign, the vehicle is photographed along with this sign.
Take several photos at once. It’s good if the phone records the time of violation and location using GPS, and this information can also be indicated in the photograph.
The video from the dashcam should also show the license plates of the car violating the traffic rules, otherwise there is no point in contacting the traffic police.
Where should I send the materials?
Complaint about traffic violations
Let's look at how to send a video of a traffic violation to the traffic police in 2019. You can personally provide the records, accompanying them with a statement .
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You can send a message via the Internet. In the second case, traffic police officers may ask a witness to the violation to appear in person at the department.
The statement indicates the place, date, time of the offense, information about the car, the article that the motorist violated, according to which the punishment will be determined.
If you submitted the application in person, attach printed photographs or photos on a disk or flash drive to it. It is better to submit information to the department responsible for the area where the violation of the rules occurred.
Make an application online
The corresponding application can be submitted on the traffic police portal through the “Acceptance of applications” section https://www.gibdd.ru/letter/. Materials are attached to the file.
First, the witness of the violation selects the addressee in the region in whose territory the violation was committed and fills in the fields that are marked with red asterisks.
In the field for receiving a response, it is better to choose “electronically”, since the offender has the right to read the application to the traffic police, find out your address and can take revenge.
Please provide a contact number for communication. An investigator can immediately contact you using it to promptly obtain additional information.
Applications are usually processed within 30 days. An application may be refused if:
- the appeal has been duplicated;
- the application contains incorrect information about the applicant or an incorrect email address for feedback;
- the witness accompanied the description of the incident with insults or obscene language;
- incorrect drafting of the text of the appeal;
- the application was submitted without certain documents or a personal signature;
- the statement does not contain a specific complaint.
Many citizens in their appeals indicate a link to material already posted on the Internet by someone with an offense, but are not witnesses themselves. Another fairly common mistake is the absence in the application of the time, location of the violation, or information about the offender’s car.
Also, some witnesses refuse to come to the department to testify and provide additional information on the case under consideration.
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Where else can I post videos of traffic violations? On social networks or well-known groups on networks with a large number of subscribers. Thanks to the public outcry, the violator is often found and punished.
Is it possible to punish for violating traffic rules by video? Yes, penalties for violations are imposed on vehicle owners.
After sending the materials to the traffic police, the inspector identifies the car, its owner, and finds out who was driving at the time of the violation.
When considering materials with recorded violations, the traffic police officer pays attention to whether these photographs really confirm the guilt of the driver, whether they reflect the offense, whether state signs of the car are visible in the photographs or videos, whether there is a link to the object, installed signs, traffic lights, markings.
The owner of the vehicle is called to the department. The most common reason for closing an administrative case is the inability to identify the driver who was driving at the time of the traffic violation.
Let's find out if a photo is evidence of a traffic violation?
Methods for transferring materials to the traffic police
If you would like to apply, you can do so in several ways:
- At a direct meeting with an inspector at the traffic police department
- Via the Internet on the traffic police website
- Via the app
Sample of a written complaint about a traffic violation
A written complaint about an offense can be submitted personally to the traffic police department in whose area of responsibility this event occurred. The form can be free, but for effective consideration it is worth including in the content:
- Your contacts
- Information about the date and address of the incident
- State vehicle registration plate, make and color
- Composition of the incident
As an example, you can use the following wording: “On the XX day of the XX month of the year 20XX, at about XX hours, I witnessed a violation committed at the ADDRESS by a car with a state registration plate NUMBER: further description of the violation.”
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Refusal to consider an application is possible only in the following cases:
- The applicant’s contacts are not indicated (full name, contact address)
- The essence of the appeal is not clear (what exactly the offense is)
- The statement contains profanity, insults, and threats to officials or members of their families.
The application must be accompanied by confirmation of your words on an electronic medium, for example, a flash drive.
Reporting infringement via the Internet
The official website of the traffic police has a service that allows you to submit an application via the Internet. All the same rules apply to it as to a paper appeal, but a clear structure makes the drafting process more understandable. All required items are marked with asterisks.
Step-by-step instruction:
- Fill out the “To whom it is addressed” block. Here we mark the unit in whose territory the violation occurred.
- We indicate the applicant. Last name, first name and email address are required. In principle, you can also indicate a postal address, but this is undesirable for reasons of personal safety
- You can mark the region where the event occurred - this will allow you to quickly classify and redirect your application
- We enter the text of the appeal in a separate field - here you need to briefly and clearly write the essence of the violation. Approximate wording was indicated in the previous section.
- We attach a photo or video recording the violation.
Mobile application for reporting violations
There is a convenient alternative - a mobile application. You can upload a photo to it and it will automatically send an application to the traffic police. True, it is designed only for certain types of traffic violations:
- Parking on the lawn
- Parking within the area of prohibition signs
- Parking at the pedestrian crossing
- Parking on the sidewalk
The “Moscow Assistant” application has been developed for Moscow residents; the SPOT application is available for other cities.
How to report a traffic violation to the traffic police
Each road user daily faces tens, hundreds and even thousands of traffic violations committed by other drivers. In this case, you can record a violation and then report it to the traffic police. This is what we will talk about today. Self-recording of traffic violations You can record a traffic violation in two ways: photo recording; video recording
However, pay attention to the following features: The state registration plates (numbers) of the car must be visible in the photo or video. This is necessary so that the traffic police understand who to impose a fine on.
The traffic violation must be clearly visible. So that the traffic police understand what to punish for. For example, if a car is stopped under a prohibitory sign, then it needs to be photographed against the background of this sign. In this case, it is better to take more photos and subsequently select the best ones. In addition, it is very good if your camera or smartphone automatically records the location of the violation (via GPS or GLONASS), as well as its time, and records this information in a photo file. If there is no such function, record the time and location of the violation manually. The second possible option is that you accidentally filmed a violation of another vehicle on your DVR. For example, driving into the oncoming lane. In this case, it will not be possible to collect additional evidence. Therefore, carefully watch the video to understand whether it contains all the necessary information (numbers of the violator and the fact of the violation itself). If the license plates or the violation committed are poorly visible in the video, then there is no point in contacting the traffic police. Once you have collected evidence, you can proceed directly to contacting the traffic police. There are several ways to contact the traffic police: Personal submission of an application; Submitting an application by registered letter; Submitting an application electronically. I note that the second and third methods do not involve personal contact with the police department. However, the traffic police may subsequently call you to testify. Traffic police officers can also contact you at the specified telephone number to clarify information. If you decide to submit an application in person or in a letter, then the application can be drawn up according to the following sample. If you submit an application electronically, you need to fill out several fields on the traffic police website. The main content of the application does not depend on the method of submission. The text should look something like this. On May 1, 2021, at 20:15, the driver of a BMW X5 (registration plate A000AA000) violated paragraph 12.2 of the traffic rules and parked his car on the sidewalk. The violation occurred at the address Kursavka village, Krasnaya st. 34, room 7. I ask you to punish the offender under Part 6 of Article 12.19 of the Administrative Code and inform me about the results of the consideration of this case. I am attaching to the application: - photographs of the location of the violation (5 pieces); - CD - disk with photographs of the violation site (1 piece - 40 photos). Let us consider in detail the contents of the statement. It must indicate: The date and time of the violation. Location of the violation. Details of the offender’s vehicle (numbers, make and model). A point in the rules that was violated. An article of the Code of Administrative Offenses that provides punishment for this violation. If you are submitting a paper application, you must attach printed photographs or information recorded on disk. The application must be submitted to the traffic police department that services the territory where the traffic violation was recorded. You can report a traffic violation online on the official website of the traffic police: https://www.gibdd.ru Filling out an application on the traffic police website 1. Select the region in which the traffic violation occurred. 2. Fill out the form according to the following sample: In the “Purpose of sending the appeal” field, select the “Application” value. Enter Last Name, First Name and Patronymic. The data must be real, otherwise the application will not be considered. Please provide your contact phone number. If traffic police officers have any questions, they will contact you by phone. In the “Appeal text” field, enter the text of the application that was drawn up earlier. Add image files of the offender and the location of the violation to the application. Finally, click the “Submit Appeal” button. This completes the filing of a violation complaint. All that remains is to wait for the decision of the traffic police officers. It is also possible that you will have to personally visit the traffic police department and give evidence there. Follow the traffic rules!
OGIBDD OMVD of Russia for Andropovsky district
When the offender is not punished
But there are situations when the violator will not be punished even if there is reliable evidence of his guilt, recorded in a photo or video. This is possible in two cases:
- Violation of the statute of limitations
- Anonymous requests
Violation of the statute of limitations
According to paragraph 1 of Article 4.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, it is possible to be held accountable for an offense only within a certain period of time. If time has passed and no decision has been made, the perpetrator can file a motion to dismiss the case due to the expiration of the statute of limitations and go unpunished. What you can expect:
- For minor violations considered without the participation of a court, the statute of limitations is limited to 2 months
- For cases in which the court makes a decision, the period is set at 3 months
- For serious offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, refusal to undergo an examination, causing minor or moderate harm as a result of an accident, a decision must be made within a year.
The period may be extended if the consideration of the case is transferred to another territorial unit.
Anonymous letters
Also, appeals are not considered on their merits, even those recorded according to all the rules with photos and videos, if they are submitted anonymously. Each application submitted to the traffic police must contain the name, surname and, if available, patronymic of the applicant, as well as contact information for written communication with him.
The most common violations sent by citizens
Due to the proliferation of applications for automatically sending applications to the traffic police, citizens most often fill out messages about violations of parking rules. These violations are not only easier to record, but they also cause a lot of inconvenience in everyday life: they damage lawns, interfere with traffic, and pose a danger to children and animals.
On the one hand, parking on the lawn or next to a pedestrian crossing may seem like a minor violation. However, behind it lies a much greater evil: it is easy to miss a pedestrian behind a car left in the wrong place, which means the risk of serious accidents increases. If we can change this situation and create a new culture, it is worth making the effort!