Prescriptive road symbols set a certain driving mode for vehicles, which cannot be changed. If you do this, the violator will face a fine, and in the worst case, he will become the culprit of an accident. Read the article about what mandatory traffic signs require from drivers, how to drive in their zone of influence, and sanctions for failure to comply with traffic rules.
What are the mandatory traffic signs?
To understand which road signs are prescriptive, you should look at Section 4 of Appendix 1 to the Traffic Regulations. Almost all of them look like a circle with a blue background, on which is a white image of the main designation:
- 4.1.1. Dictates the need to go straight. Other directions are closed to traffic.
- 4.1.2, 4.1.3. Allows you to follow right and left respectively. You can turn around under the second one.
- 4.1.4. Instructs you to drive in a straight line or to the right.
- 4.1.5. Indicates the need to move straight or left.
- 4.1.6. Requires driving only on the right or left.
- 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3. Symbols are placed where it is necessary to bypass an obstacle located on the main path. The first one shows that you need to go to the right, the second - to the left. 4.2.3 allows you to bypass the obstacle from both sides.
- 4.3. Requires you to move in a circle, following the direction of the arrows.
- 4.4.1 and 4.4.2. Mark the beginning and end point of a bicycle path.
- 4.5.1. Installed where there is a path for pedestrians.
- 4.5.2, 4.5.3. The first opens a path for pedestrians and cyclists, common to both types of road users. The second one is placed at its end.
- 4.5.4 and 4.5.5. Both mean that the area is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, but the paths are separated. They differ in where the territory is located for each type of participant, on the right or left.
- 4.5.6, 4.5.7. The symbols are placed at the end of the zone of influence of the previous ones.
- 4.6. Shows the lowest speed the vehicle is allowed to drive. You can move faster than the symbol dictates.
- 4.7. Completes the effect of the previous plate.
- 4.8.1-4.8.3. Designed for vehicles with dangerous cargo. They indicate which direction to go.
We recommend reading about the features of driving through the “Go straight” sign. From the article you will learn about what the sign prohibits, its coverage area, the rules for driving under it at the intersection and along the lanes. And here is more information about the features of driving to the “Bicycle Path” sign.
The procedure for bringing to administrative responsibility under Article 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation
Fines are imposed on the driver after an administrative resolution is issued by traffic police officers or when the offense is automatically recorded by CCTV cameras. The culprit will receive a letter demanding payment of a fine and evidence of the guilt of the car owner. The decision to deprive the right to drive vehicles for a certain period is made by the court after sending the necessary documents by traffic police officers.
If you disagree with bringing to administrative responsibility for violating the requirements of road signs or markings, the driver has the right to send a complaint to a higher authority or to the court, and it is necessary to provide evidence refuting the legality of applying the punishment.
These actions must be completed within 10 days from the date of the decision.
Rules for driving on them
The rules of the road, which are dictated by the mandatory signs, are quite simple. It is necessary to go as they require. But some symbols allow a little more than can be understood from the image. For example, if you are instructed to go left, then you can turn around.
Another feature of the pointers is their limited action depending on the installation:
- if it hangs above the strip, only on it there is a zone of its influence;
- when installed on the right side of the road, it only works there, but not on the left;
- if the sign is at the beginning of the intersection, then it works at its first intersection, but not further.
The requirements of the first six characters of group 4 do not apply to public transport. And 5.35 and 5.36 can ignore emergency vehicles.
What happens if a road sign is damaged, installed or stolen?
You can also often encounter stickers and images of road signs on gates, poles, bus stops, asphalt and house walls. Such arbitrariness is resorted to, for example, by summer residents or owners of small private enterprises who want to discourage tourists and other uninvited guests or, say, force them to slow down near their private property. Persons who decide to protect themselves with such homemade signs should know that their “art” is punishable by law.
Is it possible to install a road sign yourself?
Places for installing road signs are regulated by law, and blocking signs with other signs and installing signs at your own discretion is prohibited by clause 1.5 of the Traffic Regulations and Article 12.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
The latter involves fines: up to 10,000 rubles for individuals; 25,000 rubles for officials and 300,000 rubles for legal entities. However, if you absolutely want to install a road sign on a particular section of the road (for example, a speed limit sign near residential buildings or child care facilities), you must coordinate the installation with the traffic police. To do this, you should draw up a traffic management plan for this section and submit an application addressed to the head of the government agency, indicating the reason for the installation.
Is it possible to dismantle a homemade road sign yourself?
Having seen an obviously makeshift road sign or a sticker with the image of such a sign, a motorist should not, first of all, follow its instructions. Moreover, the rules stipulate that he has the right to remove a misleading sign from the route. But it would be better to contact law enforcement agencies with a request to dismantle the self-made object.
What happens if you intentionally damage an official road sign?
For deliberate twisting, tearing, punching road signs, as well as applying paint or stickers to them, punishment is provided under Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Vandalism”.
Damage to property in public places (such property also includes road signs) is punishable by a fine of up to 40 thousand rubles (or compulsory labor for a period of 120 to 180 hours, or correctional labor for a period of six months to one year, or arrest for a term up to three months). However, there is one caveat - if you violated the requirements of a sign damaged by vandals, and you are fined, you can challenge the punishment in court. To do this, arm yourself with photographic evidence that the sign is damaged.
What happens if you crash into a road sign?
If a road sign is damaged as a result of an accident, the driver is responsible for damage to the infrastructure. Moreover, if you flee the scene of the accident, this action will be legally regarded as leaving the scene of the accident, which is fraught with confiscation of your driver’s license for 12-18 months or detention for 15 days.
The amount of the fine for unintentional damage to signs is clearly stated in Article 12.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation - this is 5 thousand - 10 thousand rubles for a private owner. However, the good thing is that in some cases the damage is covered by MTPL insurance. In any case, in such a scenario, the driver must stop and call the traffic police and inform the insurance company employees. If the driver leaves the scene of an accident, he will not only be subject to fines, but also the insurance that could cover the costs will no longer be valid.
What happens if you steal a road sign?
If a road sign was stolen as a single item, and its value does not exceed 2,500 rubles, then liability arises under Article 7.27 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation: a fine of up to five times the value of the stolen property, or arrest for up to 15 days, or compulsory labor for up to 120 hours.
However, if the same act created a threat or interference with traffic, then the previously mentioned Article 12.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation comes into force: a fine for individuals - up to 10 thousand rubles, officials - 25 thousand rubles, legal entities - 300 thousand rubles.
Finally, theft on a large and especially large scale, committed by a person or group of persons (for example, removing signs from a dangerous section of the road for several kilometers, which led to massive fatal accidents), provides not only a large fine, but also imprisonment.
Mandatory traffic signs and traffic lights
It happens that a road symbol and a traffic light require opposite actions from the driver. And some, remembering subclause 6.15 of the traffic rules, obey the commands of the light device. But in fact, this section of the law states otherwise:
If the meanings of traffic light signals contradict the requirements of priority road signs, drivers must be guided by the traffic light signals.
If prescriptive traffic signs and traffic lights conflict, this rule does not work. And when the symbol from group 4 of Appendix 1 requires you to go only straight, and the light device allows you to turn right, you should obey the first one.
Liability for violation of markings and road signs
Article 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation regulates this legal area.
Based on it, the following penalties are imposed on the guilty persons:
- According to paragraph 1 of the above article, as a general rule, a fine of 500 rubles is imposed for failure to comply with the requirements of road signs and markings.
- Based on paragraph 2 of this article, when making a turn or U-turn prohibited by road signs or markings, you face a fine of 1,000 to 1,500 rubles.
- Based on Part 3 of Article 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, driving on a one-way road in the opposite direction is subject to a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of 4 to 6 months. At the same time, for a repeated offense of this kind, the offender faces a fine of 5,000 rubles.
- Based on paragraph 4 of the above article, a fine of 1,500 rubles is imposed for violating the requirements of markings or road signs regarding stopping or parking of vehicles. This fine will be increased to 3,000 rubles if the offense was committed in the federal cities of St. Petersburg or Moscow.
- According to paragraph 6 of Article 12.16 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, violation of the requirements of road signs or markings prohibiting the movement of trucks is subject to a fine of 500 rubles. For such an offense in the federal cities of Moscow or St. Petersburg, the fine will be 5,000 rubles.
Fines for violating signs
The fines for mandatory traffic signs are:
- at 500 rub. for cases not provided for in other sections 12.16;
- for part 2:
Turning left or making a U-turn in violation of the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of one thousand to one thousand five hundred rubles.
- for part 3:
Driving in the opposite direction on a one-way road entails an administrative fine in the amount of five thousand rubles or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of four to six months.
If the offense is repeated, the driver will lose his driving license for a year.
- for part 4:
Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings prohibiting the stopping or parking of vehicles, except for the case provided for in Part 5 of this article, shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of one thousand five hundred rubles.
In Moscow and St. Petersburg, a motorist will pay 3,000 rubles.
- If a truck driver breaks the rules, he will pay 500 rubles. And if he commits an offense in the capital or St. Petersburg - 5,000 rubles.
Mandatory traffic signs are no less strict than prohibitive ones. And it is just as important to comply with their requirements. Otherwise, it’s easy to get into an accident.
Fine for non-compliance with road sign requirements in 2021
01.01.2020
All drivers are required to comply with road signs. They can be warning signs, priority signs, prohibitory signs, prescriptive signs, information signs and other signs. Administrative liability is provided for failure to comply with the requirements of road signs.
Text of Article 12.16 of the Administrative Code.
Article 12.16 Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings.
1. Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs or markings of the roadway, except for the cases provided for in parts 2 - 7 of this article and other articles of this chapter.
A warning or a fine of 500 rubles.
- Stop sign fine
- Passing under the traffic sign is prohibited
2. Turning left or making a U-turn in violation of the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings.
A fine of 1000 to 1500 rubles.
- Turn straight ahead at the sign
- U-turn under the “No U-turn” sign
- Reversal through a double solid line
- Crossing a solid marking line when turning or turning
3. Driving in the opposite direction on a one-way road.
A fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of four to six months.
3.1 Repeated commission of an administrative offense provided for in Part 3 of this article, -
Deprivation of rights for a period of 1 year, and in the case of recording an administrative offense using special technical means operating automatically, having the functions of photography, filming, video recording, or means of photography, filming, video recording - a fine of 5,000 rubles.
4. Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs or road markings prohibiting stopping or parking of vehicles, except for the case provided for in Part 5 of this article.
A fine of 1,500 rubles.
Fine for stopping under the sign of Part 4 of Art. 12.16 Code of Administrative Offenses
5. The violation provided for in Part 4 of this article, committed in the federal city of Moscow or St. Petersburg.
A fine of 3,000 rubles.
6. Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs prohibiting the movement of freight vehicles, except for the case provided for in “part 7” of this article.
A fine of 500 rubles.
7. The violation provided for in Part 6 of this article and committed in the federal city of Moscow or St. Petersburg
A fine of 5,000 rubles.
Return to the section Fines under articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses for violating traffic rules
Car evacuation in questions and answers
Traffic rules – Appendix 1. Road signs
Fine for violating the rules for using external lighting devices, sound signals, and emergency lights
