VZCZCXRO6838
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0879/01 1951253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141253Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3133
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5424
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3151
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3016
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3668
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1052
RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3712
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000879 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV TX
SUBJECT:  TURKMENISTAN: A WORRISOME SUMMER FOR ASHGABAT DRIVERS 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified.  Not for Internet distribution 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  In June, Turkmen authorities put a network of 
traffic monitoring cameras into operation throughout Ashgabat. 
Since the authorities did not provide citizens with advance notice 
about the system and its consequences, a large number of fines were 
suddenly being issued for traffic violations.  These fines serve as 
an additional source of government revenue.  However, the high cost 
of the fines and the frequency with which they are being issued has 
caused grumbling among Ashgabat drivers. This is especially true now 
that the authorities have decided to withhold free gas coupons to 
citizens with outstanding traffic fines.  As a result, Ashgabat 
drivers are becoming more cautious about traffic violations, and 
pedestrians say they feel much safer moving about the city on foot. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
TRAFFIC MONITORING CAMERAS 
 
¶3. (SBU) Russian VOCORD traffic monitoring systems, installed over 
major thoroughfares throughout Ashgabat started functioning in June. 
 The devices consist of a high-resolution digital camera, 
speed-detecting radar, a PAL-video camera, infrared pulse 
floodlights, and a specialized server and software for data 
collection and analysis.  The system allows for round-the-clock 
automated street monitoring, and is able to recognize and photograph 
license plates, traffic violations, accidents and traffic jams, as 
well as collect traffic flow statistics.  Once collected, the data 
is broadcast to an observation center of the Interior Ministry's 
Traffic Police Department.  The new system was not announced in the 
media or elsewhere, and Ashgabat residents learned of its existence 
only when traffic police started issuing fines.  Fine notifications 
are mailed to drivers' home addresses, with a photograph of their 
vehicle, license plate number, a description of their alleged 
traffic violation, and the bill for the infraction. 
 
NO FREE GAS COUPONS FOR DELINQUENT MOTORISTS 
 
¶4. (SBU) The authorities have started withholding free gas coupons 
from drivers until they pay outstanding traffic fines.  Beginning in 
late June, they began distributing the coupons for the second half 
of 2009 to all registered vehicle owners.  This time, however, in 
order to receive the coupons, residents must first settle all 
outstanding traffic fines.  If the traffic police computer system 
shows a prior traffic violation for speeding, for example, the 
violator is sent to his community police unit to receive a fine 
notification print-out.  After paying the fine to a bank, they must 
show their receipt to the traffic police unit stationed at the bank 
where the gas coupons are being distributed so that a unit officer 
can note the payment and authorize disbursement of the gas coupons. 
According to one Ashgabat resident, "It was not easy to get my fine 
notification for driving 11 kilometers/hour over the speed limit 
because at my community police unit, after checking piles of fine 
notifications, the police officer told me that my notification had 
not yet arrived from the Traffic Police headquarters.  He told me to 
come back in a few days.  I did not get it until five days later, 
which delayed my receipt of the gas coupons."  The government has 
apparently found that linking fine payments to the gas coupons 
ensures that they are paid. 
 
NEW SOURCE OF GOVERNMENT INCOME 
 
¶5. (SBU) The minimum fine for speeding is 25 manats, about $9; for 
talking on a cell phone while driving the fine is around 280 manats, 
or $100.  It should be noted that the fine, according to 
Turkmenistan's Code of Administrative Violations, must be paid 
within 15 days from the date the notification is presented to the 
driver, otherwise the fine goes up by 20 percent.  One traffic 
police officer we spoke with said that about 50,000 fines were 
issued in June alone.  At that rate, even with minimal fines 
imposed, the 45 cameras will have paid for themselves in short 
order.  One Ashgabat taxi driver we spoke with said, "The government 
has found another way to rip people off." 
 
¶6. (SBU) A number of drivers have received more than one 
 
ASHGABAT 00000879  002 OF 002 
 
 
notification.  As another taxi driver opined, "Of course they (the 
government) didn't notify anyone in advance (about putting the 
traffic monitoring system into operation).  It's not in their 
interest to do so.  If they did so, people would be more cautions 
and the police would collect fewer fines, which would mean less 
money for them."  Many taxi drivers rent their cars from someone 
else, in which case, the traffic violation and fine would end up 
going to the wrong person. 
 
CAUTIOUS DRIVERS 
 
¶7. (SBU) The installation of the cameras and imposition of fines has 
caused disgruntlement.  Another driver said, "First they 
(government) increased the price of gas and now, instead of fixing 
the roads, they install cameras to make driving more expensive." 
Knowing that radar cameras can detect speeding at a distance of 50 
meters or less, drivers routinely watch their speedometers when 
approaching the radars.  Since the radars were installed, the number 
of traffic police officers in Ashgabat streets has decreased 
noticeably, now they are only seen in areas that do not have 
cameras.  The city's pedestrians are happy about the monitoring 
system.  One pedestrian said, "With so many unruly drivers in 
Ashgabat, having cameras on the streets will lower the number of 
accidents and deaths."  Another positive aspect that some have noted 
is that "everyone is equal before the cameras, whether one is an 
ordinary citizen or even a policeman: Everyone pays the same fine, 
no excuses." 
 
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT:  The new traffic cameras in Ashgabat has caused 
discontent among many drivers because of the fines being imposed and 
the bureaucratic hassles with trying to prove payment of them.  The 
authorities, however, see a number of benefits, including reduced 
traffic violations, increased revenues, and dispensing with the need 
for manual tickets issued by traffic police.  Some have suggested 
that the new revenues being collected from the fines to repair roads 
and infrastructure in Ashgabat and the surrounding areas.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
MILES