MOSCOW (AP) — In a hurried attempt to placate protesting truck drivers, the Russian parliament has modified a new road bill.
The State Duma voted overwhelmingly on Friday to lower the fines from 450,000 rubles ($6,670) to 5,000-10,000 rubles ($75- $150) for failure to pay a new road toll.
The bill still has to go to the upper house of parliament and get the president’s signature.
Truck drivers, many of whom own and operate their own vehicles, have been protesting the new road toll for long-distance haulers. The truckers say the new system is a financial blow and that it is unlikely the toll money would go to maintain Russia’s roads as promised.
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.