Latvia to confiscate cars with Russian plates starting Feb. 15

Amendments to Latvia's Road Traffic Law, set to take effect on Feb. 15, empower authorities to confiscate cars bearing Russian license plates, Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) reported.

Owners of vehicles registered in Russia had until Feb. 14 to either register their cars in Latvia or remove them from the country, the CSDD said.

Read also: Russia escalating passportization, reportedly outlawing Ukrainian vehicle plates in occupied lands

Vehicles registered in Russia are only permitted to engage in road traffic in Latvia when in transit. Drivers should note that a vehicle with Russian registration can only transit Latvia once.

It is mandatory to provide information about the vehicle, the driver, and the period during which the car will be in Latvia before entering the country. This duration should not exceed 24 hours.

Read also: Since last year, Ireland has stopped issuing visas to Russian diplomats

Failure to register the vehicle in Latvia or to exit the country, if unauthorized use in road traffic is suspected, grants authorities the right to confiscate the vehicle.

There is also a fine ranging from EUR 750 ($807) to EUR 2000 ($2152) the illegal operation of a car with Russian license plates.

Latvia reportedly intends to transfer 14 cars, seized from drunk drivers and valued at over EUR 100 thousand ($108 thousand), to Ukraine.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine