Policemen will have the right to stop drivers only if they violate traffic rules. The Democratic Party of Moldova (PD) called for the abolition of police abuses in traffic controls, PD leader Vlad Plahotniuc told a briefing today.

The decision was taken following several complaints from citizens and media, which reflected some cases of abuse.

“I asked some time ago for my colleagues in the government to come up with an analysis, and I learned that in the reform process of several years ago, hundreds of policemen, whose real task was to patrol and ensure public order, have re-qualified themselves as road police officers. Thus, it was found that instead of 300 road agents, today we have over 1,000, and all of them just stop cars, especially without reason for so-called routine checks that are actually harassing people and generating of corruption”, Plahotniuc said.

At the same time, the PD leader said he called on government officials to take up the issue. “People must be allowed to move in peace, as long as they have not committed violations, and the police should focus on intervention in concrete cases of illegal traffic”, he said.

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