Minors at transport facilities

The Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor's Office reports that any unauthorized interference with the operation of railway transport is prosecuted by law and may entail criminal, administrative, and material liability.

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, at the Shumilino station, minor N., born in 2002, placed foreign objects on the railway tracks of Shumilino station. Since the minor had not reached the age of 14, from which administrative liability for this offense occurs according to the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses (hereinafter referred to as the CAO of the Republic of Belarus), an administrative offense report under Part 1 of Article 9.4 (Failure to fulfill parental duties) of the CAO of the Republic of Belarus was drawn up against the minor's mother.

At the Kopty stopping point, minors siblings R., born in 2002 and 2004, placed 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 CAO of the Republic of Belarus was also drawn up against the minors' mother.

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.

Unfortunately, minors commit not only offenses against the safety of traffic and operation of transport at transport facilities, but

also other offenses, there are also facts of commission of crimes.

An example is a case from the not-so-distant past, when minor Sergey, 17 years old, together with minor Nikolay, 16 years old, at night, while intoxicated, intentionally, using their feet, as well as a metal pipe and stones, damaged and destroyed property belonging to the utility enterprise of the Sharkovshchyna district, as well as the transport enterprise RUP "Vitebsk branch of the Belarusian Railway" (warning signs, railway traffic lights, posts, fences, and other property), thereby causing material damage in the total amount of 6,537,808 rubles. By their actions, P. Sergey and R. Nikolay committed a crime provided for by Part 1 of Article 218 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus "Intentional destruction or damage to property" (the sanction of this article provides for punishment up to 2 years of restriction of liberty). The minors compensated for the damage caused, and also paid a significant fine.

The most common offense committed by minors on transport facilities is walking on railway 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 result in a fine of 0.2 to 2 basic units.

    For 6 months of 2016, administrative offense reports were drawn up against 63 minors.

I remind you that railway tracks must be crossed only in designated areas, using pedestrian bridges, tunnels, crossings, 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 the consumption of alcoholic beverages,

alcoholic 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 the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses) and may entail a fine of up to 8 basic units, for committing the offense repeatedly, a fine of up to 15 basic units or administrative arrest.

For 6 months of 2016, 22 minors were brought to administrative responsibility by the Vitebsk Department of Internal Affairs for Transport for drinking alcoholic beverages, 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 the actions committed by their minor children (dependents) who have not reached the age from which administrative or criminal responsibility occurs, in accordance with Article 9.4 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses for failure to fulfill parental duties, which may entail a fine of up to 10 basic units.

For example, on March 27, 2014, at 17:50, three girls born in 1997 were celebrating a birthday, for which they were drinking beer near the Luchosa station. Administrative offense reports were drawn up against the offenders under Part 1 of Article 17.3 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses.

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

The Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor's Office, the Vitebsk and Polotsk Departments of Internal Affairs for Transport, as well as the NGO "BRSM" of UP "Vitebsk Branch of Belarusian Railway", in cooperation with educational institutions, enterprises, and the public, are conducting targeted preventive measures

work on preventing the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors, preventing them from committing offenses and crimes, and preventing 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 healthy citizens who are responsible for their own destiny and the destiny of their Motherland.

Assistant to the Vitebsk
Transport Prosecutor
Class 1 Lawyer Yanchilenko E.V.