Kazakhstan PM proposes ending fine discounts for repeat traffic offenders

September 22, 2026 at 11:28 AM2 min

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Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov proposed ending the 50% discount on traffic fines for repeat offenders at a government meeting on September 22, 2026. The Interior Ministry will study a points-based system and a threshold of 5–10 violations per year. Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepekha said the ministry plans to raise the issue again at the next Kurultai.

Key Facts

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov proposed that repeat traffic offenders lose the 50% discount on fines and instead face penalties that increase with each violation.
Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepekha said the ministry will again raise the issue at the next Kurultai, with a possible threshold of 5 to 10 violations per year.
Senator Marat Kozhayev proposed a similar measure in February 2025, targeting drivers with 10 or more violations per year, including some with over 100 repeat offenses.
Lepekha noted that some drivers accumulate fines exceeding 1 million tenge and pay them within one to two days while continuing to violate traffic rules.

Government Proposal

At a government meeting on September 22, 2026, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said the current situation on roads remains difficult despite a decline in accident rates. He stated that drivers continue to use public transport lanes, cross double solid lines, and exceed speed limits. Bektenov instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to study the introduction of a points-based system used in several foreign countries. He said the common task is to ensure road safety and consistently reduce accidents and fatalities.

Threshold and Enforcement

Deputy Interior Minister Igor Lepekha said the ministry wants to distinguish between single and systematic violations. He mentioned a possible threshold of 10 fines per year or five serious violations such as running a red light. Lepekha noted that some drivers pay 50 or more fines per year within the first one or two days after receiving them. The ministry plans to raise the issue again at the next Kurultai, according to Lepekha.

Previous Attempts

In February 2025, Senator Marat Kozhayev proposed removing the 50% discount for drivers with 10 or more violations per year. Kozhayev also suggested requiring repeat offenders to retake the theoretical driving exam and temporarily revoking their licenses. He later clarified that the initiative affects a small number of drivers, some of whom commit over 100 similar violations per year.