Crossing an ice barrier that's been sealed up could land you a fine of 1 million rubles
Rewritten Article:
Looks like the ice crossings over the Vilyuy and Aldan rivers have seen their last use, as per the announcement by the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Management of the Federal Highway "Vilyuy"". Here's a heads-up: starting from 15.04.2025, no more ice crossing action on the Vilyuy, and 18.04.2025 marks the end for the Yakutsk - Lower Bestyakh crossing. Stepping foot onto the ice at these times is a big no-no. That's the word from the Yakutsk Transport Prosecutor's Office.
Breaking these rules by flouting the ice restrictions, as stated in Article 9.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), can cost you a pretty penny. Individuals face fines ranging from three to five thousand rubles, while officials will shell out twenty to fifty thousand rubles, and legal entities have to cough up one hundred thousand to one million rubles.
Heads up for service providers too, 'cause using closed ice crossings for passenger transportation can put you in the hot seat. This could lead to criminal charges under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code for offering services that don't meet safety standards, with a potential sentence of up to two years in the slammer.
And if negligence leads to someone's death, you might face even stricter punishment under Part 1 of Article 109 of the Russian Criminal Code. The Yakutsk Transport Prosecutor's Office urges all Yakutia residents and visitors to keep their distance from discontinued ice crossings – one reckless trip onto the ice could end up costing you and your loved ones your lives, they warn. It's best to stick to safer travel options.
- The announcements by the Management of the Federal Highway "Vilyuy" indicate that ice crossings on the Vilyuy and Yakutsk - Lower Bestyakh rivers will no longer be used starting from April 15, 2025, and April 18, 2025, respectively.
- Violating ice crossing restrictions, as outlined in Article 9.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), could incur fines for individuals ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, while officials and legal entities may face fines up to 50,000 rubles and 1,000,000 rubles, respectively.
- Using discontinued ice crossings for transportation could lead to criminal charges under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code, with penalties including imprisonment for up to two years.
- Negligence resulting in someone's death may lead to even stricter punishment under Part 1 of Article 109 of the Russian Criminal Code, and the Yakutsk Transport Prosecutor's Office strongly advises all residents and visitors to avoid discontinued ice crossings, as a single reckless trip could cost lives and pose significant safety risks.
