English

Belarusian authorities to contract with Austrian firm to install road surveillance cameras

The Belarusian authorities have picked Austrian-registered Avonside Holdings GmbH to install a video surveillance system across the country to track drivers’ speeds.

The Council of Ministers approved the conclusion of an “investment agreement” with the firm by its September 22 directive. It authorized Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashow and Transport Minister Ivan Shcherba to sign the agreement.

On September 3, Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a presidential edict establishing administrative penalties for people whose vehicles have been caught speeding on camera.

Alyaksandr Zanimon, chief inspector at the interior ministry’s traffic police department, told BelaPAN on Monday that the first cameras were projected to be installed on the M1/E30 road running from Brest to the Russian border in northeastern Belarus.

The official acknowledged that punishing speeding drivers caught on camera might prove difficult. “In Belarus, vehicle owners often allow other people to drive their cars,” he said. “Besides, people sometimes register newly bought cars at addresses other than their own.”

He predicted that a number of motorists would be filing complaints about charges of speed camera offenses.