A new legislative initiative aims to enforce stricter penalties for fare evasion in Yerevan’s public transport system. The proposal, currently under public review, introduces administrative fines for passengers who fail to pay their fare or misuse transport privileges.
Drafted by the Yerevan Municipality and presented by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the proposed amendments would revise laws on “Automobile Transport,” “Local Duties and Fees,” and the Administrative Offenses Code. If approved, passengers must validate their fare within one minute of boarding or face fines of 15,000 AMD, while those misusing special transport privileges would be fined 18,000 AMD.
The plan also introduces a unified fare collection system across buses, trolleybuses, and the metro, centralized under municipal oversight. Enforcement would be carried out by municipal officials or employees of state-owned transport operators, who would have the authority to stop vehicles, prevent their movement, and request police assistance if necessary.
Additionally, the draft law allows for technological monitoring, enabling video, audio, and photographic evidence to be used in identifying fare violators. It also sets stricter regulations on vehicle conditions, requiring that buses must not exceed ten years of age, except in cases where government exemptions are granted.
The proposal comes amid ongoing protests against transport fare increases, with opposition members of the Yerevan City Council and activist groups urging passengers to resist the hikes. Some critics argue that the new penalties are a response to these protests rather than an effort to improve public transport efficiency.
Discussions are still ongoing, and the proposed fines must pass through the National Assembly before becoming law.
