Mykola Azarov, at a government meeting on August 8, 2012, commented on rumors about a possible ban on video recording of traffic police inspectors. According to him, such a ban cannot exist in principle, since citizens have the right to record the actions of traffic police officers on video.
The Prime Minister noted that, on the contrary, legislation should provide equal opportunities for recording violations for both drivers and law enforcement representatives. He also emphasized the importance of coordinating all decisions with the public, specialists, and taking into account European experience.
Azarov expressed the opinion that the Ukrainian traffic police should be brought in line with European work standards. He stated that previous reorganizations of the department, accompanied by staff reductions and personnel changes, had a negative impact on the efficiency of the service. Now it needs to be restored and brought to a new qualitative level.
The head of government also pointed out the need to find a balance between the number of traffic police officers and their technical support, as well as between incentives and the responsibility of inspectors for the legality of their actions. These issues, in his words, require a comprehensive approach and should become part of a long-term program to improve the efficiency of the traffic police, which the government should begin considering immediately.
In addition, Azarov stated that intolerance towards traffic violations should become the norm of civic culture in Ukraine. He emphasized the need to tighten penalties for traffic violations and eliminate factors hindering the establishment of order on the roads, ranging from the quality of driver training to the responsibility of the inspectors themselves.
The Prime Minister noted the importance of public support for the actions of the authorities, but also the possibility of public control. He proposed considering the creation of a permanent advisory body under the Cabinet of Ministers - a Public Council on Road Safety.
According to him, society should develop a rejection of traffic violations, as well as violations of the rights of road users by law enforcement officers. This, in Azarov's opinion, should become part of the civic culture in the country.
Recall that earlier, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department Volodymyr Reznikov reported that filming traffic police officers while they are performing their official duties is always allowed.
