Flashing high beams in Belarus can bring a fine of up to 450 rubles

Flashing your high beams can result in a fine of up to 450 rubles. Lawyers Pavel Latyshau and Valiantsina Korsun explained when such a signal counts as a violation and how it is punished.

According to the specialists, using high beams improperly in itself falls under part 3 of article 18.13 of the Administrative Offences Code. The penalty under it is a fine of up to three base units, that is, up to 135 rubles. This fine applies to cases where the flashing led to no consequences.

If the signal made another driver change speed or direction, this is already creating an emergency situation under part 12 of the same article. The fine in that case is from 5 to 10 base units, that is, from 225 to 450 rubles. A driving ban of up to two years is also possible.

The note to article 18.1 of the Administrative Offences Code says that creating an emergency situation means actions that forced other road users to change speed or direction or to take other safety measures.

The lawyers note that in the cases known to them, inspectors usually limited themselves to verbal warnings.