Russian driver offers bribe to escape drunk driving charges on A-370 highway
A 52-year-old driver in Russia's Far East has been caught attempting to bribe a traffic police officer after being stopped for drunk driving. The incident took place along the A-370 highway, where authorities documented the illegal offer of 15,000 rubles to avoid penalties. This case follows a broader crackdown on drink-driving offences in recent years. The driver, a resident of Novostroyka village, was pulled over on the 298th kilometre of the A-370 highway connecting Khabarovsk and Vladivostok. He had been driving while intoxicated, weaving along the road's shoulder. Upon inspection, officers discovered he had previously lost his licence for a similar offence.
The man then offered a 15,000-ruble bribe to the officer in exchange for dropping the charges. An investigative team arrived shortly after and recorded the attempted bribe. The case files have since been sent to prosecutors, who will decide whether to press criminal charges under Article 291 of the Russian Criminal Code.
This incident comes as Russian courts have intensified penalties for drunk driving. Between 2023 and 2025, over 210,000 drivers lost their licences each year for alcohol-related offences or refusing sobriety tests. While the total number of convictions fell from around 340,000 in 2023 to 280,569 in 2025, fines for such violations increased to 45,000 rubles by 2025. The driver now faces potential criminal prosecution for bribery, in addition to penalties for repeat drunk driving. The case highlights ongoing efforts to enforce stricter traffic laws, particularly against impaired driving. Authorities have not released further details on conviction rates for similar bribery attempts.
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