Special subjects

Important people are outraged: they are protected from fines by a live traffic cop by law, but not from fines because of a camera.

Our native Russian language is amazing. The variety called Newspeak is also delightful. All these “claps”, “negative growth” and similar ways either call things by other names or give them outlandish definitions. Just the other day we remembered the existence of “special subjects”. Who, to their regret, began to find themselves in the same uncomfortable life situations as we, simple, not special subjects.

Almost any person who gets behind the wheel sooner or later gets caught on camera, after which he receives a fine. Speeding, markings, parking - there are plenty of reasons. And in a complex city, sometimes you make a mistake without even intending to break anything. As they say, no one is immune. However, no, such people exist. They are called special subjects.

The Federation Council was talking about them just the other day. Judges, prosecutors, senators, deputies and other important persons are protected from punishment for violating traffic rules. But this is if a living traffic cop plans to punish them. But if the violation is recorded by a camera, then no. The soulless piece of iron doesn’t care, and she doesn’t know anything about our chain of command. “It turns out that immunity guarantees cease to apply with automatic fixation. This is illogical,” says Senator Maxim Kavdzharadze, perplexed.

Of course it's illogical. It’s even surprising that a whole discussion on this topic arose in parliament. And that there were not only those who agree with Kavjaradze, but also those who believe that immunity is necessary only to ensure the independence of officials from strangers and insurance against possible pressure, and there is no need to protect yourself from technology - it is, as it were, initially objective and does not put pressure on anyone.

I had a case. A few years ago. The fine came for a violation that I had already paid off. I came at the end of the year, and I had to figure it out only on the first working day of the new one. A whole crowd gathered in the department - all with exactly the same problem. The system failed, issued repeated fines to everyone, and the people, stunned by this disgrace combined with the madness after the January holidays, were angry, dumping everything on the unfortunate officer, who only managed to apologize and cancel the fines.

And how many stories about cameras that perceive a passenger as a driver, a driver who is wearing a seat belt is considered not wearing a seat belt, and for some reason a moving car is perceived as parked in the middle of traffic!.. All this is wildly annoying, it can be very difficult to challenge absurd punishments. And I perfectly understand “special subjects” who do not want to waste their precious time on such nonsense. And personally, I don’t want them or anyone else to experience this torment.

But still. It is difficult for me to imagine in our time real pressure on judges or deputies using such methods. Even if it weren't prohibited. Who will take the risk? And if they want to put pressure on people, forcing them to make certain decisions, they will find more sophisticated ways. However, I don’t want to guess here and won’t give examples. There were many cases when cars with “special objects” on board got into bad situations, breaking the rules and endangering other people. But immunity from punishment did not allow the violators to be given what they deserved.

Impunity has become a privilege, part of the conditional social package attached to the position or shoulder straps.

“Special objects” can drive along the median or even in oncoming traffic, at any light, move at any speed and park anywhere. And not because it helps them avoid extraneous pressure within the scope of their job responsibilities. They rush not only when they are in a hurry somewhere on business. But simply because they can, they want it that way, it’s more convenient for them. And if, God forbid, there is an accident, it will not be they who are to blame, but you/you/us.

One can recall the guardsmen of Ivan the Terrible, who had, let’s say, very broad powers. Tsar Ivan is now popular and serves as an example of a strict ruler and statesman. And his oprichnina people also seem like role models to some. Their very status allowed them to be above ordinary people and do whatever they wanted, including with the same ordinary people. It is tempting to live in the 21st century according to the principles of the 16th century.

Senator Maxim Kavdzharadze, during a discussion in the Federation Council, clarified that the norms guaranteeing the inviolability and special procedure for punishing special subjects are “scattered” under different laws. And I agree with him that it is necessary to concentrate all this in one place and really draw up an immunity package - for public visibility.