Maybe Ukraine Is Changing For The Good?

CSM: Clean sweep? Ukraine cans all its bribe-hungry traffic cops.

The country's traffic police are notorious for pulling motorists over to extract bribes. Following a model that worked in Georgia, Ukraine is terminating the entire department and replacing them with new, Western-style patrol cops.

Kiev, Ukraine — Ukraine’s blue-uniformed traffic police have a reputation for being nothing short of state-sponsored bribe takers.

Across the country’s highways, the officers stand on the side of the highway and wave their white batons to signal random motorists to pull over. From there, drivers say, a shakedown for any number of trumped up or real traffic violations typically results in the motorists emptying their wallets to “resolve” the issue.

“They don’t serve the people, they serve themselves,” says Volodymyr Kuzhekyn, a former mechanic. “Public respect for them is lower than the curb.”

WNU Editor: In the whole scheme of things on what is now happening in Ukraine .... war, economic collapse, corruption .... firing all of the country's traffic police appears to be minor on the surface .... but in fact it sends a message that things may actually change. Over the years I have been shaken down 3 times on my visits to Ukraine while driving .... the 3rd time I was arrested and put in jail for two days because I refused to pay. I only learned later that I was released because my cousin paid the stupid fine. And when I got my car back .... the spare tire was missing. My hope is that after the traffic cops the focus shifts to the entire legal system .... prosecutors, judges .... they should all be fired ... but that is probably a bridge too far.