“Namangan mayor’s service car committed 47 traffic violations” - Traffic authority responds to mayor's radar complaint

Mansur Gaziyev, head of the Namangan regional traffic safety department, has responded to a letter from Namangan city mayor Anvar Otakhojaev regarding the removal of allegedly illegally installed traffic radars. In his response, Gaziyev pointed out that vehicles under the administration of Namangan city and its surrounding districts, Davlatobod and Yangi Namangan, have committed numerous traffic violations and have outstanding unpaid fines. Meanwhile, the mayor’s press secretary stated that the unpaid fines originated from radars installed in violation of regulations.

The official letter from the regional traffic authority noted that the service vehicle assigned to Mayor Anvar Otakhojaev alone had committed 47 traffic violations.

The response cited several presidential and government resolutions that served as the legal basis for the installation of automated photo and video traffic enforcement systems at key intersections and road segments in Namangan:

• 8 intersections under Presidential Resolution PQ-3989 (October 30, 2018)
• 3 intersections and 5 straight road segments installed by business entities under Cabinet Resolution No. 232 (April 21, 2021)
• 6 intersections and 5 straight road segments under Presidential Resolution PQ-190 (April 4, 2022)

According to Gaziyev, these installations serve to improve road safety, enforce driving regulations, and reduce fatal accidents.

He explained that the radars in Namangan city, Davlatobod, and Yangi Namangan were placed specifically in accident-prone zones. In 2024 alone, these areas saw 156 pedestrian-related traffic accidents, 13 of which were fatal and 143 resulting in injuries. He added that 70% of the severe accidents were due to speeding. So far this year, no fatal accidents have occurred in these areas, which he attributed to the radar systems.

The letter further revealed that the Captiva vehicle with license plate 50 020 DAV – assigned to the city mayor – committed 47 violations in 2024 alone, with 11 incidents resulting in unpaid fines totaling 8.17 million UZS.

Other vehicles under the mayor’s office (license plates 50 023 DAV, 50 024 DAV, 50 025 DAV, and 50 028 DAV) were responsible for 41 violations totaling 18.75 million UZS in fines. Vehicles operated by the administrations of Davlatobod and Yangi Namangan districts (license plates 50 074 DAV, 50 075 DAV, 50 016 DAV, 50 017 DAV, 50 019 DAV, and 50 022 DAV) were involved in 46 violations, with 16.3 million UZS in unpaid fines.

Gaziyev urged the mayor to critically review the persistent traffic violations committed by vehicles under the administration's control and to assist in ensuring the collection of overdue fines.

In a statement to Kun.uz, city hall press secretary Rakhmonjon Mamadaliev confirmed that the Captiva with plate number 50 020 DAV is indeed the official car assigned to Mayor Otakhojaev.

He explained, “We requested the removal of radars installed in violation of regulations—those mounted on utility poles, lighting equipment, and buildings. Fines issued from such radars can be contested and annulled in court, which unnecessarily burdens citizens.”

Mamadaliev clarified that the fines attributed to the mayor's vehicles came from those non-compliant radar installations. “We submitted a letter instead of taking the issue to court. As for the other fines, they have been paid,” he said, adding that an official statement on the matter would be released soon.

Previously, Mayor Otakhojaev had formally requested that the regional traffic authority dismantle radars installed in ways that violated existing standards. His letter argued that these installations were contributing to public dissatisfaction.