Minor safety

Placing foreign objects on the rails, throwing stones at trains, damaging signaling and communication devices, and other unlawful actions that violate traffic safety on railway transport can lead to loss of life and cause serious material damage.

These offenses are often committed by minors, and their parents are often held responsible.

For example, on 06/26/2017, on the Vitebsk – Chepino section, minor K., born in 2005, placed foreign objects on the railway tracks at kilometer 567, picket No. 2 of the said section. Since the minor had not reached the age of 14 established by the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses (hereinafter referred to as the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus), from which administrative responsibility for this offense arises, an administrative offense report under Part 1 of Article 9.4 (Failure to fulfill parental duties) of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus was drawn up against the minor's mother.

On 06/27/2017, on the Vitebsk – Chepino section, minors U., born in 2004, and S., born in 2005, were placing foreign objects (crushed stone) on the railway tracks. An administrative offense report under Part 1 of Article 9.4 (Failure to fulfill parental duties) of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus was also drawn up against the minors' mothers.

The children's pranks could have led to loss of life and material damage. In addition, by being on the railway tracks, the minors endangered their own lives. The Prosecutor's Office urges minors not to violate the rules of conduct on transport facilities, and parents to pay close attention to the upbringing of their children.

The most common offense committed by minors on transport facilities is walking onrailway tracks or being on railway tracks in an unauthorized place (Part 5 of Article 18.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus), which may entail a fine of 0.2 to 2 basic units (for 7 months of 2017, 15 minors were prosecuted).

We remind you that railway tracks must be crossed only in designated places, using pedestrian bridges, tunnels, crossings, and platforms, as well as in places where special signs are installed;

Secondly, unfortunately, are offenses related to the consumption of alcohol by minors!

It is worth reminding that drinking alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer in a public place, or appearing in a public place while intoxicated, entails administrative responsibility for minors from the age of 16. Responsibility for committing the specified offense is provided for by Part 1 of Article 17.3 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses (hereinafter referred to as the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus) and may entail a fine of up to 8 basic units (up to 184.00 rubles), for committing the offense repeatedly, a fine of up to 15 basic units (up to 345.00 rubles) or administrative arrest.

In the past period of the current year, 28 minors have been prosecuted by the Vitebsk, Polotsk, and Orsha Departments of Internal Affairs on Transport for drinking alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer in a public place, or appearing in a public place while intoxicated.

In addition, parents (persons replacing them - guardians, trustees) should be aware that they bear administrative responsibility for acts committed by their minor children (wards) who have not reached the age from which administrative or criminal liability occurs, in accordance with Article 9.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus for failure to fulfill parental duties, which may entail a fine of up to 10 basic units (up to 230.00 rubles).

For example, on August 10, 2017, at 3:00 PM, a minor L., born in 2003, was drinking beer near the Luchesa station. A protocol on administrative offenses was drawn up against the offender under Part 1 of Article 17.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus.

Attention sellers!

Retail workers must remember that in accordance with Part 6 of Article 12.17 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus: "Violation of trade rules, expressed in the sale of alcoholic, low-alcohol beverages or beer to minors, -

entails a fine of from twenty to fifty basic units" (up to 1150.00 rubles).

 

The commission of offenses by minors at transport facilities is a consequence of their aimless presence near the railway, inadequate organization of leisure time outside of study, and the lack of proper parental control over their children's behavior.

The Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor's Office, the Vitebsk, Polotsk and Orsha Departments of Internal Affairs on Transport, as well as the NGO "BRSM" of UP "Vitebsk Branch of Belarusian Railway", in cooperation with educational institutions, enterprises, and the public, are carrying out targeted preventive work to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors, prevent them from committing offenses and crimes, and prevent child injuries.

However, a positive effect will be achieved only if each of us is not indifferent, feels and understands the responsibility for what is happening around. Only together can we raise citizens who are healthy and responsible for their own destiny and the destiny of their Motherland.

Assistant Vitebsk Transport
Prosecutor V.O. Shevernovskaya