Dagestani drivers considered the checks for gas equipment markings excessive against the backdrop of the fuel crisis.

The number of checks for gas equipment markings in cars has increased against the backdrop of the fuel crisis and the frantic demand for gas systems. Dagestani drivers considered this zeal of the traffic police an attempt to exploit the situation for their own benefit. The traffic police are doing nothing to reduce the frenzy around gas equipment and simplify the registration system, the journalist pointed out.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", against the backdrop of the fuel crisis, traffic police officers in Dagestan intensified checks for gas equipment markings in vehicle documents, a local driver shared on social media. Some residents of the republic, commenting on this post, doubted that such a marking increases vehicle safety. Others called for compliance with the law.

A driver Ahmad, who has a car with gas equipment, reported that there were periodic checks for gas equipment markings even before these events.

"They always checked them. It's an additional income for the traffic police - to catch someone. I have acquaintances who install gas but do not register it. You have to pay extra for registration, so they didn't register it. And the police know this and periodically catch such people. But in Dagestan, it was easier because when you got caught with this, you just paid some money and went on. But when, for example, they go to Russia, they would disable the gas equipment and drive purely on gasoline. Because there, paying on the spot doesn't always work," he said.

According to Ahmad, drivers are confident that the police do not care about safety.

"Now they have taken advantage of the fuel crisis and really started to check. But again - for what? To make some money," he is sure.

Ahmad noted that the cost of the gas equipment itself has doubled just since the beginning of the crisis.

"The installation is more or less professionally arranged. Prices vary, depending on the quality of the equipment. There are more expensive ones, and there are cheaper ones. For example, expensive Italian equipment used to cost 60 thousand, but now the same equipment costs 120 thousand. The price for gas for refueling cars has also increased. If in Moscow it used to be 28 rubles, in Dagestan it was 24, now it costs 45 rubles. The price of gas has doubled," he pointed out.

Another driver - Rustam, who drives on gas, recently faced a check for equipment registration in the Babayurt district, at a crossing.

"In my opinion, there was a raid on gas equipment in the area. I think for them it’s a convenient opportunity for earning. He immediately asked to open the trunk, saw the gas equipment, took the documents, went, but soon returned them, as there was nothing to complain about," he said.

Rustam reported that special equipment has become very expensive.

"And you have to pay a lot for registration. With a mediator, it’s 18-20 thousand, if you do it yourself, then 15 thousand rubles. But in any case, you have to wait for 1.5 months for processing," he noted.

Another driver with gas equipment, Ruslan, has not yet been checked.

"But I have heard a lot about this. And by the way, not only with us, but also with neighbors, in North Ossetia, they have taken this very seriously," he said.

According to Ruslan, the registration of gas equipment now costs about 20 - 22 thousand.

"Of course, if you have the money — it’s not a problem. But checks have intensified at a critical moment. Right now, when the fuel crisis has started, when gas is a salvation. 95-99% of cars are running on gas - either propane or methane. Practically the entire vehicle fleet, even diesel vehicles, are running on gas, except for new Chinese cars. They could have waited with the checks until everything settles down. When prices stabilize somewhat, people will get used to these prices," he said.

He is sure that such checks are conducted solely for profit.

"Now is just a convenient moment to use it purely for their interests. For how many years, since 2002-2003, people started installing gas. And they arrange checks in waves. That is, there were such campaigns even before this fuel crisis," noted Ruslan.

The traffic police are doing insufficiently to alleviate the situation.

The journalist Milrad Fatullaev stated that against the backdrop of the sharp rise in fuel prices, the number of people wishing to install gas equipment (GBO) on their cars has dramatically increased.

"It is clear that the traffic police have more work. I don’t think the officers decided to intensify their work in this direction right away; it’s just that such checks have become more frequent because the number of new GBO installations has increased. If an emergency occurs tomorrow due to improper installation of equipment, the traffic police will also be held accountable. After all, no one has relieved them of responsibility for ensuring the proper quality and safety of installations," he told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".

At the same time, according to the journalist, there is no comparable increase in explanatory work from the traffic police and other relevant services, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Energy, he believes.

"Car enthusiasts want to get information about what is happening, and possibly advice on how to act in the current fuel situation. They are waiting for the procedure for installation to be simplified, for prices to be restrained, as well as for the procedure for checking GBO equipment by the traffic police to be simplified. However, we do not see such work, and this has caused outrage among car owners for almost the last two weeks," Fatullaev pointed out.

As an example of one of the measures to relieve tension, it could be if the traffic police published a list of places where equipment can be installed.

"It is necessary to organize a live queue, significantly increase the number of inspectors checking the safety and quality of GBO installations, and to stamp the installation on the spot. But apparently, someone benefits from this frenzy, nervousness, and queues - after all, then the client is ready to pay more just to avoid all these troubles," Fatullaev concluded.