Dmitry Evdokimov, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's Quantitative Analysis of Economic Effects, commented for TASS on the government's initiative to introduce a post-payment parking mechanism in Russia. According to the expert, this measure will reduce the number of fines received by drivers due to errors in data entry or rushing, but will not affect the rules for towing vehicles.
Dmitry Evdokimov emphasized that the new mechanism is aimed at protecting conscientious but inattentive users. “Post-payment rather reduces the risk of ‘technical’ fines when the driver is willing to pay but has made a mistake in the data or has not met the short payment window,” the expert explained.
At the same time, he noted that the introduction of post-payment does not cancel the existing rules for stopping and parking. “This measure does not solve the problem of towing. Towing is used for violations of the rules for stopping and parking, and not for the fact of non-payment itself,” said Dmitry Evdokimov.
Dmitry Evdokimov also called the 24-hour deadline for payment a reasonable compromise. “This is enough to cover everyday scenarios: communication, apps, number or zone errors, and at the same time does not turn payment into a week-long ‘credit’, which worsens payment discipline and administration,” he added.
However, if the driver does not pay for parking within the allotted 24 hours, the penalty mechanism should remain in place. In Moscow, the expert reminded, this amount is 5,000 rubles for individuals and 50,000 rubles for legal entities, and the discount for prompt payment does not apply to such violations. Summing up, Dmitry Evdokimov outlined the main focus of the discussion surrounding the innovation: “The system should punish the offender, not the user who was late or made a mistake. Hence the discussion: what is more important for the city, ‘penalty discipline’ or a convenient mechanism?”