Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

Executive Agency Automobile Administration held today a special campaign against illegal transportation of passengers. Agency inspectors examined several service vans transporting passengers. They found out illegal transportation for a fee, for which they drew up three statements.

Any company that transports employees to their workplace is required to issue an official card with personal data and a photo. It is a practice the drivers to pick up passengers for a fee when there are empty seats.

This type of illegal transportation is entirely in the informal sector because passengers are transported on unregulated lines and the revenue is not reported, which burdens the national budget. These illegal transportations do not guarantee the security of passengers as they do not have tickets and insurance.

Currently the penalty for such services is a fine of between 100 and 200 leva for the driver of the vehicle.

To suspend these illegal operations, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications has made proposals to amend the Road Transport Act. After adoption of the law, new administrative measures will be implemented, such as immobilization of the vehicle, which is used for the public transportation of passengers or goods without the necessary documents for the consignment, for a period of 6 months for the first offense and 12 months for the second.