Fines for trucks driving on dams may be raised in the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      11 August 2025 15:55

      [155]

      Society

      Authorities of the Nizhny Novgorod region have proposed tightening penalties for truck drivers who violate the ban on driving over hydraulic structures. The corresponding bill was submitted to the regional legislative assembly by the region’s governor, Gleb Nikitin. After consideration at the regional level the document will be sent to the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

      As noted in the explanatory note to the document, Article 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses currently provides for a fine of 5,000 rubles for trucks driving over dams and embankments in violation of prohibitory signs, and 10,000 rubles for a repeated offense.

      Nizhny Novgorod authorities propose to toughen the penalties: 20,000 rubles for the first offense and 40,000 for a repeat offense. The new measures will apply only if the violation occurred on a roadway that runs across hydraulic structures.

      According to the regional government, one of the main causes of deterioration of the road surface at such sites is the regular passage of overloaded heavy trucks. The hydraulic structures, including dams and embankments, were built in the Soviet era and were not designed for modern loads.

      The Nizhny Novgorod Hydroelectric Power Station, built in 1948–1962, is cited as an example.

      “Despite the installed road signs prohibiting the movement of freight vehicles and the penalties in force, many drivers of such vehicles continue to ignore the ban on driving along the road that runs across the hydraulic structure — the embankment (dam) of the hydroelectric power station,” the note says.

      Violating the bans can lead to damage to hydromechanical equipment, destruction of dam structures and, as a consequence, flooding of territories, power outages and disruption of the station’s operation.

      The bill’s authors emphasize that increasing fines will strengthen the economic incentive for drivers to comply with the established restrictions. It is expected that the new fine levels will make violations less profitable and help protect strategically important infrastructure facilities.

      Recall that traffic of vehicles with a gross weight over 15 tonnes was banned on the bridge of the Nizhny Novgorod HPP in January 2024. But drivers continue to use the embankment.

      The violators angered the head of the Gorodetsky district, Alexander Mudrov, who previously spoke very emotionally on the matter: “Just as we welcome guests with an open heart, so with a firm hand we sweep out of our home those who cause harm to the dwelling. In this case, that is you, dear drivers of heavy trucks.”

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