Chita driver charged with attempting to bribe traffic police

A drunk driver in Chita offered traffic police officers a bribe of 30,000 rubles (about $330 at current rates) to avoid an administrative protocol for drunk driving, but the police refused, and the man faces a criminal case. This was reported on January 29 in the MAX-channel of the Transbaikal police.

At night, a patrol stopped a Nissan car for inspection, driven by a 46-year-old resident of Chita showing signs of intoxication. The man refused to undergo a medical examination with a breathalyzer and was taken to the Transbaikal Regional Narcological Dispensary.

In the medical facility building, he offered traffic police officers 30,000 rubles (about $330) several times to avoid the procedure. The officers refused, warning the man of criminal liability for bribery. When the man offered the money again, the inspectors reported the corruption to the duty station.

A criminal case has been initiated under part 3 of article 291 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation («Bribery of an official»). The man faces up to 8 years in prison with a fine of up to thirty times the bribe amount — that is 900,000 rubles (about $10,000 at current rates).

For drunk driving, the man has been held administratively liable. He was deprived of his driver«s license for 18 months and fined 45,000 rubles (about $500 at current rates).