The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the bill of the Ministry of Natural Resources on the ban on “jeeping” in environmental areas and in similar reserves.
The document has passed all authorities and examinations. Experts from a dozen environmental organizations, societies, associations, and public associations worked on its development, taking into account international experience, together with specialists from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.. For it to become law, it is necessary for the document to be voted on by parliament and signed by the president.
This will be an addition to the current law “On the Natural Reserve Fund of Ukraine”, where there are gaps that allow jeep enthusiasts to ride through the territories of the natural reserve fund. Now this “carte blanche” will be taken away in order to avoid an aggressive attitude towards protected areas, flora and fauna.
“The bill will establish stricter prohibitions and increase penalties for violating them.. Driving in natural reserve areas will only be allowed on public roads, the streets of cities and other populated areas and in private areas,” said Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources Ruslan Strelets.
There are gaps in Ukrainian legislation that allow connoisseurs of “ jeeping ” to ride through the territories of the natural reserve fund. Photo: facebook.com
According to the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, international experience was studied when preparing the bill. For example, in protected areas of Iceland, off-road vehicles are illegal because they damage the soil cover and vegetation.. Anyone caught driving an SUV in the wrong place could face a fine of up to $4,500.. The Czech Republic practices jeeping on military training grounds, and in the United States you need to stand in line to get permission to travel on certain roads.
The prepared bill will be submitted for consideration to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, where they hope for support from people's deputies. True, people's deputies are delighted with SUVs, many of them own such equipment and love trips to nature, incl.. to protected places.