Bulgarian Top Cop to Ban Random Traffic Stops

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is going to impose a ban on random traffic stops, which now will involve only violators. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, is working on ending random traffic stops and the bribing of traffic cops that often stems from them.

Speaking Friday from the Danube city of Ruse, Tsvetanov informed he had assigned officers from the traffic police to seek ways to stop only drivers violating traffic laws, stressing the said order is going to be sent soon to all units dealing with traffic control.

The Minister admitted that the current practice of random and routine stops, including drivers who had not committed violations, has created conditions for offering and taking bribes.

"Questions such as "What should we do now?" and "How are we going to resolve the issue?" must be removed for ever as mentality and behavior," he warned and reminded of the dismissal of 10 traffic police officers from Ruse for "stopping drivers in an undignified way."

According to Tsvetanov, the new order will make drivers feel more comfortable on the road, knowing they would not be stopped by traffic patrols if they obey traffic laws.

There will be exceptions such as special police operations.

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