Road Traffic Safety Law

Road Traffic Safety Law — Tesakan

Article 1.Subject and objective of this Law

1. This Law regulates the relations arising in the field of ensuring road traffic safety of the Republic of Armenia; establishes the principles and directions of state policy in the field of road traffic safety, the legal bases for organising road traffic and ensuring its safety, the powers of state administration and local self-government bodies in the field of organising road traffic and ensuring safety, as well as the rights and obligations of road users.

2. The objective of this Law is to protect the life, health and property of citizens, their rights and lawful interests, and the interests of society and the state, by preventing threats to road traffic safety — in particular road traffic accidents — and reducing their severity and consequences.

Article 2.Basic concepts used in this Law

The following basic concepts are used in this Law:

insufficient visibility — visibility of the road and (or) a visibility distance of up to 300 metres in conditions of fog, rain, snowfall and (or) other weather unfavourable for ensuring road traffic safety;

driving range (avtodrom) — a fenced, separated, enclosed area equipped with permanently installed structures, devices and elements for performing exercises to teach driving of vehicles or to acquire skills;

driving ground (avtoplshchadka) — a separated area equipped with portable devices and elements for performing exercises to teach driving of vehicles;

motor vehicle (automobile) — a power-driven vehicle used for carrying people or goods on the road, or for towing a vehicle used to carry goods (passenger car, bus, goods vehicle, goods-and-passenger vehicle, special motor vehicle, electric vehicle). This concept includes trolleybuses, i.e. non-rail vehicles connected to an electric power line. It does not include vehicles such as agricultural tractors, for which use for carrying people or goods on the road, or towing a goods-carrying vehicle, is an additional function;

built-up area (settlement) — a built-up territory whose entry and exit are marked with settlement road signs;

carriageway — an element of the road intended for the movement of non-rail vehicles;

traffic lane — a longitudinal strip of the carriageway, marked or unmarked, wide enough for the movement of vehicles in a single file;

railway crossing — an intersection, at the same level, of the road with the tracks of a railway or tram that have a separate roadbed;

public-transport route vehicle — a vehicle (tram, trolleybus, bus) carrying passengers and (or) luggage along routes that have stopping points (stops);

permissible maximum mass — the mass of a fully assembled and fuelled vehicle with driver, passengers and cargo, established by the manufacturer as the maximum permissible. The permissible maximum mass of a combination of coupled vehicles moving as a single unit is the sum of the permissible maximum masses of all the vehicles included in it;

intersection — an area where roads cross, join or diverge at the same level, including the area created by such crossing, joining or diverging, conventionally bounded by imaginary lines connecting the respective opposite starting points of the curves of the carriageways of those roads in the zone of their crossing, joining or diverging. An exit from an adjacent territory onto a road is not an intersection;

organised pedestrian column — a group of people moving together along the road in one direction in the manner established by law;

stopping (halt) — deliberately bringing a vehicle to a standstill for up to 5 minutes, or for the time needed for boarding or alighting of a passenger and (or) loading or unloading of the vehicle;

parking — deliberately bringing a vehicle to a standstill for more than 5 minutes, except to prevent a collision with another road user or any obstacle, for boarding or alighting of a passenger and (or) loading or unloading of the vehicle, and in other cases provided by law;

traffic controller (regulator) — a person empowered to regulate road traffic and carrying out that regulation in the manner established by law;

shoulder (verge) — an element of the road adjoining the carriageway, differing from it in the type of surface or set apart by appropriate markings, intended for stopping a vehicle, movement of cyclists and pedestrians, placement of building materials during road repair, or other cases established by law;

trailer (semi-trailer) — a vehicle not equipped with an engine, intended to be set in motion by a power-driven vehicle and to travel in its combination as a single unit (including a special trailer);

forced stop — deliberately bringing a vehicle to a standstill due to its malfunction or the physical and (or) mental condition of the driver or passenger and (or) a danger associated with carrying cargo, or another obstacle that has appeared on the road, or for the purpose of complying with a prohibiting signal of a traffic light or traffic controller, giving way to other vehicles, preventing a collision with another road user or any obstacle, complying with a requirement of a police officer or another competent person, made in the manner established by law, to stop the vehicle, or complying with a requirement provided for by the Traffic Rules approved by the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The rules established by law for stopping do not apply to cases of a forced stop;

bicycle — a vehicle having at least two wheels and set in motion, as a rule, by the muscular force of the person on it, in particular by pedals or a handle, except a wheelchair, and which may also have an electric motor with a nominal maximum power in continuous-load mode not exceeding 0.25 kW that switches off automatically at a speed of more than 25 km/h;

pedestrian — a person on the road outside a vehicle, except a person entitled to carry out works on the road and carrying out those works in the manner established by law. A person moving in a non-motorised wheelchair, wheeling a bicycle, moped or motorcycle, or pulling (pushing) a cart, sledge, pram or wheelchair, as well as a person with a disability moving in a motorised wheelchair at pedestrian speed, is treated as a pedestrian;

pedestrian crossing — a separated section of the carriageway marked with road signs and (or) markings, intended for the movement of pedestrians in the manner established by law;

road — an earthen strip or the surface of an artificial structure, equipped or adapted and used in the manner established by law for the movement of vehicles, having at least one carriageway and, where present, also tram tracks, pavements, shoulders and dividing strips;

road traffic — the system of public relations arising in the process of moving people and (or) carrying goods along the road, with or without a vehicle;

road traffic safety — the state of protection of road users from road traffic accidents;

technical means of organising road traffic — road signs, traffic lights, guards/barriers, markings, etc.;

engineering structures of roads — stops, railway crossings, urban electric-transport lines, bus pavilions, vehicle parking areas, rest zones, snow-protection forest belts, plantings, bypass routes outside the road right-of-way, fire- and mudflow-protection structures, emergency dead-ends, road communications, lighting, etc.;

road traffic accident — an event arising in the process of and with the participation of a vehicle moving along the road, as a result of which people are killed or injured, or vehicles, cargo or structures are damaged, or other material damage is caused;

ensuring road traffic safety — activity aimed at preventing road traffic accidents and reducing the severity of their consequences;

road user (hereinafter — traffic participant) — a person directly participating in road traffic: a driver, pedestrian or passenger;

organisation of road traffic — a set of organisational, legal and technical measures aimed at regulating road traffic;

pavement (sidewalk) — an element of the road adjoining the carriageway or separated from it in any manner, intended for the movement of pedestrians in the manner established by law;

power-driven (mechanical) vehicle — a vehicle set in motion by an engine, including tractors, self-propelled machines and mechanisms (other than vehicles whose engine working volume does not exceed 50 cubic centimetres), as well as trolleybuses and electric vehicles;

adjacent territory — a territory directly bordering the road and not intended for through movement of vehicles (yards, parking areas, enclosed areas, filling stations, etc.);

international traffic — the movement in the Republic of Armenia of a vehicle registered in another country and present in the Republic of Armenia continuously, or with a break of up to two months and within up to one year;

moped — a two- or three-wheeled power-driven vehicle having an internal combustion engine with a working volume not exceeding 50 cm3, or an electric motor with a nominal maximum power in continuous-load mode of more than 0.25 kW and less than 4 kW, whose maximum design speed does not exceed 50 km/h. Quadricycles with equivalent technical characteristics are treated as a moped;

motorcycle — a two-wheeled power-driven vehicle with or without a sidecar, whose engine working volume (in the case of an internal combustion engine) exceeds 50 cm3, or whose maximum design speed (with any engine) exceeds 50 km/h. Tricycles having a mass in assembled and fuelled condition without driver, passengers, cargo and, in the case of electric vehicles, also without batteries, not exceeding 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods) and a maximum effective engine power not exceeding 15 kW, as well as quadricycles with motorcycle-type seating or a motorcycle-type handlebar, are also treated as a motorcycle;

state of intoxication — a physical and (or) mental condition of a person caused by the use of alcoholic beverages, narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, in which driving a vehicle entails administrative liability;

qualification examination — a theoretical and (or) practical examination held in accordance with the curricula for acquiring the right to drive a vehicle of the appropriate category;

driver — a person operating a vehicle. A person teaching driving, as well as a person driving pack and (or) saddle animals or livestock along the road, is also treated as a driver;

hazardous (emergency) situation — a situation arising as a result of the action and (or) inaction of a traffic participant and (or) the controller, in which a real danger of a road traffic accident is created;

visibility distance — the distance from an observation point at the height of the driver's seat to a visible object located at the same height;

vehicle — a device intended for carrying a person, cargo or equipment installed on it along the road;

passenger — a person in the cabin (compartment) of a vehicle or on a vehicle, as well as a person entering (boarding) and leaving (alighting from) the vehicle, except the driver and the person teaching driving;

hours of darkness — the period of time between the end of dusk and the beginning of dawn;

bus — a motor vehicle having more than 8 seats for passengers, designed by its construction and equipment for the safe and comfortable carriage of passengers and luggage;

dividing strip (median) — an element separating adjacent carriageways of the road, set apart structurally and (or) by appropriate markings, not intended for the movement or stopping of vehicles and pedestrians;

goods vehicle (lorry) — a motor vehicle designed by its construction and equipment for the carriage of goods;

fatality — a person who died as a result of a road traffic accident;

stopping point of a public-transport route vehicle — a place on a certain section of the route of a public-transport vehicle, intended for boarding and alighting of passengers and equipped with appropriate road signs;

passenger car — a motor vehicle having no more than 8 seats for passengers, designed by its construction and equipment for the safe and comfortable carriage of passengers and luggage;

self-made vehicle — a vehicle made by individual (collective) means in accordance with the technical conditions established for such vehicles;

authorised official — a police official entitled to draw up a record of an administrative offence and (or) to take a decision on its basis;

deregistration — a registration action connected with the registration of the vehicle by another competent body, or with its export from the territory of the Republic of Armenia or its scrapping;

special territory — a territory guarded by the police or another competent body, intended for keeping impounded vehicles;

re-registration — a registration action connected with a change in any of the vehicle's registration data (surname, name, address of the owner, type, make, registration plate, colour of the vehicle, numbers of numbered units, permissible maximum mass, unladen mass, special marks in the registration certificate);

re-equipment (conversion) — a change in the construction of a vehicle connected with the removal of component parts or equipment provided for by the vehicle's construction and affecting road traffic safety, or with the installation of ones not provided for;

injured person — a person who has received a bodily injury as a result of a road traffic accident, by reason of which their subsequent hospitalisation or outpatient treatment is required;

state registration of a vehicle — registration of the emergence, change or termination of rights of ownership, pledge and lease under a leasing contract in respect of a vehicle;

road train (autopoezd) — a power-driven vehicle coupled with a trailer (semi-trailer) (power-driven vehicles coupled to each other for towing are not considered a road train);

to give way to other vehicles — the driver must not continue or resume movement or perform any manoeuvre if it may force the drivers of other vehicles to unexpectedly change their direction or speed of movement.

goods-and-passenger vehicle — a motor vehicle designed by its construction and equipment for the carriage of goods, as well as having no more than six seats for passengers, and intended for the safe and comfortable carriage of passengers and luggage (with the part intended for carrying goods reliably separated from the compartment for carrying passengers and luggage);

electric vehicle — a motor vehicle set in motion by one or more electric motors powered by an autonomous source of electricity (except a trolleybus and a tram);

special motor vehicle — a motor vehicle intended for performing, by means of the units, devices and equipment installed on it, various, predominantly non-transport (not related to carrying people or goods) works;

special trailer (semi-trailer) — a trailer (semi-trailer) intended for performing, by means of the units, devices and equipment installed on it, various, predominantly non-transport (not related to carrying people or goods) works;

tricycle — a vehicle with three wheels arranged symmetrically in relation to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle, whose engine working volume (in the case of an internal combustion engine) exceeds 50 cm3 and (or) whose maximum design speed (with any engine) exceeds 50 km/h;

quadricycle — a four-wheeled motorcycle-type vehicle intended for operation on public motor roads, with a maximum design speed of not less than 25 km/h, a maximum engine power of not more than 15 kW, and a mass in assembled and fuelled condition without driver, passengers, cargo and, in the case of electric vehicles, also without the mass of the batteries, of not more than 400 kg (not more than 550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods);

quad bike — a four-wheeled off-road motorcycle-type vehicle (all-terrain motorcycle) with tyres having an internal pressure of not more than 69 kPa (0.7 kgf/cm2), having a seat with motorcycle-type seating and a motorcycle-type handlebar, intended for carrying (the movement of) only one person (the driver) off public motor roads. The operation of quad bikes (all-terrain motorcycles), as well as of snow-and-swamp vehicles and snowmobiles, on public motor roads is prohibited;

personal mobility (movement) device — a vehicle having one or more wheels (rollers), intended for the individual movement of a person using an electric motor (electric scooter, electric skateboard, hoverboard, Segway, monowheel and other similar devices).

(Article 2 supplemented, amended, revised by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; supplemented by HO-36-N of 08.04.10; revised, amended, supplemented by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; supplemented, amended by HO-278-N of 09.12.19; revised by HO-65-N of 07.02.24; supplemented by HO-361-N of 02.10.24)

Article 3.Legislation on ensuring road traffic safety

1. The legislation on ensuring road traffic safety consists of the Constitution, this Law, other laws and legal acts.

2. The rights and obligations provided for citizens of the Republic of Armenia by this Law extend to persons holding refugee status in the manner established by law and, in cases provided for by the international treaties of the Republic of Armenia, also to foreign citizens and stateless persons.

3. If the international treaties ratified by the Republic of Armenia establish norms other than those provided for by this Law, the norms of the treaty apply.

(Article 3 supplemented by HO-218-N of 23.03.18)

Article 9.1.Powers of the authorised body of state administration in the field of internal affairs in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

1. In the field of ensuring road traffic safety, the authorised body of state administration in the field of internal affairs (hereinafter — the authorised body for internal affairs):

a. grants permission for the re-equipment of vehicles with a change of registration data and for the re-registration of vehicles re-equipped without permission, except for cases of replacing the body or frame with a body or frame of the same dimensions, or the engine with an engine of the same technical characteristics, or changing the colour of the vehicle;

b. in the established procedure, holds examinations for obtaining a driving licence and issues national certificates of the right to drive vehicles, and, on their basis, also international driving licences;

c. sets the prices for allocating high-demand vehicle registration plates according to the criteria, the auction starting prices of special-demand registration plates according to the criteria, as well as the rules of the electronic auction of special-demand registration plates;

c.1) organises and conducts the electronic auction for allocating special-demand vehicle registration plates;

d. in the established procedure, carries out the preliminary notation regarding a right to a vehicle and the state registration, accounting and impounding of vehicles, issues the certificate of state registration of the ownership right to a vehicle, state-accounting documents and registration plates;

e. exercises control over compliance with the requirements of the legislation on ensuring road traffic safety and takes the measures provided by law;

f. using technical means or by technical examination, exercises control over ensuring the safety of the technical condition and equipment of vehicles during their operation in the Republic of Armenia, and takes the measures provided by law;

g. exercises control over bringing roads and their engineering structures and the technical means of organising road traffic into conformity with the requirements of technical norms, rules and standards, and issues demands to eliminate detected violations;

h. exercises other powers vested in it by other laws.

(Article 9.1 supplemented by HO-476-N of 16.12.22; amended and supplemented by HO-285-N of 12.09.23)

(the Law HO-476-N of 16.12.22 has a final part and transitional provisions)

(the Law HO-285-N of 12.09.23 has a final part and a transitional provision)

Article 10.Powers of the Police of the Republic of Armenia in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

1. In the field of ensuring road traffic safety, the Police of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter — the police):

a) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

b) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

c) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

d) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

e) using technical means or by technical examination, exercises control over ensuring the safety of the technical condition and equipment of vehicles during their operation in the Republic of Armenia, and takes the measures provided by law;

f) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

g) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

h) regulates road traffic and, in cases established by law, stops and prohibits the movement of vehicles;

i) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

j) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

k) carries out the patrol service;

l) regulates road traffic, including in the case of faulty traffic lights — the first 3 hours free of charge, and for each subsequent hour on condition of subsequent payment by the body managing the road, which is reimbursed by the organisation servicing the traffic lights in accordance with the works contract;

m) organises and conducts preventive measures aimed at ensuring road traffic safety;

n) using a technical means, in the established procedure, carries out an examination of the driver's state of sobriety by means of the content of pure alcohol in exhaled air (a check of the fact of being in a state of intoxication);

o) provides the paid services established by this Law;

p) publishes information relating to ensuring road traffic safety that is not prohibited by law;

q) cooperates with public organisations dealing with issues of ensuring road traffic safety;

q.1) (point repealed — HO-476-N of 16.12.22);

q.2) in the established procedure, issues the temporary permit allowing the movement of goods vehicles on the streets of settlements of the Republic of Armenia where the movement of goods vehicles is prohibited, for the purpose of carrying out freight transport;

q.3) (point repealed — HO-240-N of 14.11.19);

r) exercises other powers established by the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Compulsory Insurance of Liability Arising from the Use of Motor Vehicles” and by other legal acts.

2. Technical means that record offences in the field of ensuring road traffic safety are installed on roads by the competent bodies upon the recommendation of the police.

(Article 10 amended by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; supplemented by HO-36-N of 08.04.10; amended by HO-73-N of 18.05.10; amended and supplemented by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; amended by HO-73-N of 18.05.10, HO-332-N of 08.12.11 and HO-183-N of 21.12.15; supplemented by HO-186-N of 19.10.16; amended by HO-240-N of 14.11.19 and HO-476-N of 16.12.22)

(Law HO-476-N of 16.12.22 has a final part and transitional provisions)

Article 13.2.Registration plates of vehicles

1. The registration plate of a vehicle is the property of the state.

2. When changing (alienating) a vehicle, the user of a high-demand registration plate hands it over for storage to the body carrying out the accounting of the vehicle. If, within six months, the user of that registration plate or his close relative (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, child) presents for accounting another vehicle belonging to him by right of ownership, then those registration plates are provided to the user or close relative upon payment of the state duty established by law for the allocation of registration plates, and if those registration plates were allocated before high-demand registration plates began to be allocated by auction — without auction, then also upon payment of the established price. If another vehicle is not presented for accounting within the said period, he loses the priority right to use the registration plate handed over for storage. The user of a high-demand registration plate may at any time renounce the right to use that registration plate. The right to use high-demand registration plates may be transferred to the person who has inherited the vehicle, upon payment of the state duty established by law for the allocation of registration plates, and if those plates were allocated before high-demand registration plates began to be allocated by auction — without auction, then also upon payment of the established price.

3. (part repealed — HO-332-N of 08.12.11)

4. The right to use high-demand registration plates may be transferred to a close relative referred to in part 2 of this Article only by the person entitled to use that registration plate for the first time, except for cases of transfer by inheritance or to persons entitled to use those registration plates for the first time.

5. (part repealed — HO-332-N of 08.12.11)

6. When changing (alienating) a vehicle, the user of a special-demand registration plate hands it over for storage to the body carrying out the accounting of the vehicle. If, within six months, the user of that registration plate or his close relative (father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, child) presents for accounting another vehicle belonging to him by right of ownership, then those registration plates are provided to the user or close relative upon payment of the state duty established by law for the allocation of registration plates. If another vehicle is not presented for accounting within the said period, he loses the priority right to use the special-demand registration plate handed over for storage. The user of a special-demand registration plate may at any time renounce the right to use that registration plate. The right to use special-demand registration plates may be transferred to the person who has inherited the vehicle, upon payment of the state duty established by law for the allocation of registration plates.

7. The right to use special-demand registration plates may be transferred to a close relative referred to in part 6 of this Article only by the person entitled to use that registration plate for the first time, except for cases of transfer by inheritance or to persons entitled to use those registration plates for the first time.

(Article 13.2 supplemented by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; amended by HO-332-N of 08.12.11; supplemented by HO-285-N of 12.09.23)

(the Law HO-285-N of 12.09.23 has a final part and a transitional provision)

Article 13.3.Basic conditions for holding electronic auctions for the allocation of special-demand registration plates of vehicles

1. The electronic auction for the allocation of special-demand registration plates of vehicles (hereinafter — the auction) is bidding organised with the use of electronic systems through the official website of the authorised body for internal affairs, which is organised and held by the relevant service of the authorised body for internal affairs.

2. The lot of the auction is the right to use special-demand registration plates of vehicles.

3. The provisions established by the Law “On Public Bidding” concerning an auction organised by means of electronic systems apply to the process of holding the auction, unless otherwise provided for by this Article.

4. Public notice of the holding of the auction is given at least two days before the day of holding (starting) the auction and includes the information established by points 1, 2 and 4-8 of part 1 of Article 8 of the Law “On Public Bidding”.

5. The public notice of the auction is published on the official website of the authorised body for internal affairs, http://www.mia.gov.am.

6. A person wishing to participate in the auction registers a participant's personal page in the system created on the official website, after which, in the manner and within the time limits specified in the public notice, he freezes an auction participation deposit in the amount of five per cent of the starting price of the lot or transfers it to the organiser's deposit account, and registers for the auction. The procedure for public notice of the auction and for registration of participants is established by the head of the authorised body for internal affairs.

7. The estimated time of the end of the auction for each lot is 12:00 on the third working day following the day on which the auction for that lot started. In the case of each new price offer within the 10 minutes preceding the end of the auction, the auction continues for another 10 minutes, counted from the moment the offer is received.

8. During the auction each participant is entitled to submit a new price bid, which must exceed the previous price bid submitted by the participants by at least the amount of the minimum increment. The minimum increments to the starting price of the lot are made in the amounts established by part 2 of Article 33 of the Law “On Public Bidding”.

9. The deposit frozen in advance by the participant who won the auction is transferred to the organiser's account, and the amount transferred to the deposit account is not returned.

10. The deposit of a participant who participated in the auction but did not win is unfrozen (returned).

11. The price of the lot is paid by non-cash means.

12. Immediately after the end of the auction, the organiser makes available on the personal page of the participant who won the auction, or sends to the e-mail address indicated by him, the record of the auction, the form of which is established by the auction regulations.

13. The winning participant of the auction is obliged, after receiving the record, within three working days, to pay the price of the purchased lot in full, offsetting the deposit.

14. If the participant who won the auction fails to pay the purchase price of the lot, the deposit is not returned.

15. Within one day after receiving the full sale price of the lot, the organiser makes available on the personal page of the participant who won the auction, or sends to the e-mail address indicated by him, the certificate of acquisition by auction of the right to use special-demand registration plates, the form of which is established by the auction regulations.

16. The certificate of acquisition by auction of the right to use special-demand registration plates is valid for one year. If it is not presented within the said period to the subdivision carrying out the accounting of vehicles (if a vehicle is not registered with the special-demand registration plates acquired by auction with the right of use), the winning participant of the auction loses the right to use the special-demand registration plates, and the sale price of the lot is not returned.

17. The auction is deemed not to have taken place if:

1) no buyer participated in the auction;

2) no increment to the starting price of the lot was made during the auction;

3) the person who won the auction refused to conclude the purchase and sale contract or did not pay the purchase price of the lot within the established period.

18. If the auction has not taken place on the ground that the buyer failed to pay the purchase price of the lot within the established period, the deposit for participation in the next auction is set for that participant at twenty per cent of the starting price of the lot.

(Article 13.3 supplemented by HO-285-N of 12.09.23)

(the Law HO-285-N of 12.09.23 has a final part and a transitional provision)

Article 15.Technical inspection of vehicles

1. Vehicles operated on the territory of the Republic of Armenia are subject to technical inspection in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

2. The technical inspection of vehicles is carried out with the following periodicity:

1) the first technical inspection of vehicles is carried out in the fourth year following their release;

2) passenger taxi cars, trolleybuses, buses, specialised vehicles intended for the carriage of dangerous goods and their trailers (semi-trailers), for which more than 4 and up to and including 10 years have passed since the year of release — once a year, and where more than 10 years have passed — once every 6 months;

3) passenger cars, goods vehicles, goods-and-passenger vehicles having up to 8 passenger seats, trailers (semi-trailers), motorcycles (except for the vehicles provided for by point 2 of this part), for which more than 4 and up to and including 10 years have passed since the year of release — once every 2 years;

4) passenger cars, goods vehicles, goods-and-passenger vehicles having up to 8 passenger seats, trailers (semi-trailers), motorcycles (except for the vehicles provided for by point 2 of this part), for which more than 10 years have passed since the year of release — once a year;

5) newly imported vehicles for which more than 4 years have passed since the year of release are presented for technical inspection before the vehicle is first registered with the authorised body for internal affairs;

6) a vehicle must be presented for technical inspection by the last day of the month indicated on the diagnostic card issued following the previous technical inspection.

3. (part repealed — HO-58-N of 20.01.21)

4. Technical inspection is carried out by organisations holding a licence for vehicle-technical-inspection activity, except for trolleybuses, whose technical inspection is carried out by the organisations operating them.

The technical inspection of service vehicles of the state authorised body in the field of defence of the Republic of Armenia, the state authorised body for internal affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the National Security Service and the State Protection Service of the Republic of Armenia is carried out in the competent subdivisions of the respective state bodies in the manner established by order of the heads of the state bodies.

The principles for forming the tariffs for technical inspection of vehicles and the state body approving them are established by law.

5. The licence must indicate the number of operated inspection lines, based on the number of vehicles registered in the territory of validity of the licence. The licensed person may locate its inspection lines in one or several places within the territory of validity of its licence. The licensed person is not entitled to carry out the purchase and sale of vehicles, the repair of vehicles, or vehicle-leasing activity.

6. The licensed person that carried out the technical inspection issues to the owner of the vehicle or his representative a diagnostic card of the form established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, and transmits the data on the vehicle and the results of the technical inspection online to the electronic database of the authorised body in the field of transport.

7. (part repealed — HO-58-N of 20.01.21)

(Article 15 amended by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; amended and supplemented by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; revised and supplemented by HO-167-N of 22.06.12; supplemented by HO-169-N of 20.11.14; revised and amended by HO-58-N of 20.01.21; amended by HO-476-N of 16.12.22; supplemented and amended by HO-62-N of 04.03.26)

(the Law HO-476-N of 16.12.22 has a final part and transitional provisions)

Article 17.Grounds and procedure for stopping a vehicle

1. A police officer regulating road traffic is obliged, in the manner established by part three of this Article, to stop a vehicle by giving a signal if:

a) it is evident, or visible with the use of technical means, that the driver has violated the requirements of the Traffic Rules, or that the movement of the vehicle or the carried cargo, or the driver or passengers by their conduct, clearly create a danger to traffic safety;

b) there are sufficient grounds to suspect that the vehicle or the persons in it are wanted;

c) there is a need to inform drivers of dangers or unfavourable conditions that have arisen on the roads.

2. In addition to the cases specified in part one of this Article, police officers may also stop vehicles when conducting special operations authorised by the Chief of Police of the Republic of Armenia or the person replacing him, as well as when performing, jointly with the inspection body exercising supervision in the field of transport, road inspection supervisory functions in respect of the recording device (digital tachograph card) in motor vehicles.

3. The requirement of police officers regulating road traffic to stop a vehicle must be given by means of a signalling baton pointed at the vehicle, a disc with a red signal, or a loudspeaker device. To attract the attention of road users, a signal may also be given by whistle. When regulating road traffic, the police officer, depending on the situation, may, in parallel with regulating signals, give with the free hand other signals understandable to drivers and pedestrians. The signals must be understandable to the driver and given in good time, so that complying with them does not create a hazardous situation.

4. After stopping a vehicle in the cases provided for by part one of this Article, the police officer regulating traffic is obliged to immediately approach the driver, introduce himself, stating his position, rank, surname and subdivision, as well as, upon request, the individual identification number of the police officer, state the reason for stopping and, having recorded the violation in the manner established by law, permit the further movement of the vehicle, except in the cases provided for by points “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e”, “f”, “g”, “h”, “i”, “j”, “m”, “n” and “p” of part one of Article 18 of this Law.

5. Where there is a need to obtain information about the condition of the road or about road traffic accidents that have occurred, about dangers that have arisen on the roads, and (or) other information about ensuring road traffic safety, the police officer regulating traffic may, by giving a signal in the manner established by part three of this Article, stop a vehicle.

6. After performing the actions specified in point “c” of part one and in part five of this Article, the police officer permits the further movement of the vehicle if the grounds specified in point “a” or “k” of part one of Article 18 of this Law are not revealed.

7. After stopping a vehicle, a police officer may invite the driver to get out of the cabin or compartment of the vehicle if:

a) it is necessary to eliminate a technical malfunction of the vehicle or a violation of the rules for carrying goods;

b) there are sufficient grounds to suspect that the driver is in a state of intoxication;

c) the vehicle has been stopped on suspicion of being wanted, and it is necessary, with the participation of the driver, to compare the numbers of the engine, body or frame of the vehicle with the entries of the vehicle's registration document;

d) the driver or passenger is suspected of committing a crime;

e) it is necessary, with the participation of the driver, to draw up a record or to provide assistance to other road users.

8. Liability for exceeding the established speed of movement and for violating the established norm of light transmission of vehicle windows arises when the violation is confirmed by the use of appropriate technical means.

(Article 17 supplemented, amended and revised by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; amended by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; supplemented by HO-315-N of 30.07.21 and HO-476-N of 16.12.22)

(the Law HO-476-N of 16.12.22 has a final part and transitional provisions)

Article 18.Grounds for prohibiting the movement of a vehicle

1. The movement of a vehicle is prohibited if:

a) the driver is driving the vehicle in a state of intoxication or refuses or in any way evades an examination of the state of sobriety;

b) the driver has been deprived of the right to drive a vehicle;

c) the driver is driving the vehicle without the right to drive a vehicle of the given {{category;

d|sf-term:category-d}}) the driver is driving the vehicle without having a driving licence with him;

e) the driver is driving the vehicle with a forged or invalidated driving licence;

f) the driver is driving the vehicle without the documents or accessories indicated in the driving licence;

g) the driver is driving the vehicle with a forged registration certificate or without a registration certificate;

h) the driver is driving the vehicle with forged, altered or non-standard registration plates (in the case of temporary plates — also with expired plates) or without registration plates;

i) the driver is driving the vehicle without the documents established by law;

j) the vehicle or a person in it is wanted, or there are well-founded suspicions that a crime has been committed with the vehicle, or that it contains persons preparing, committing or having committed a crime;

k) the vehicle has not passed technical inspection within the period established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, or the technical inspection has revealed any of the malfunctions or conditions, established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited;

l) the vehicle has been unlawfully re-equipped;

m) the vehicle has caused a road traffic accident resulting in harm to a person's life or health, or is a participant in such an accident;

n) in accordance with the Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia, the road tax for using the motor roads of the Republic of Armenia by goods motor vehicles entering the Republic of Armenia (including from EAEU member states) (except for those processed under the customs procedure “Release for domestic consumption”) that are not registered (not accounted for) in the Republic of Armenia, as well as by goods motor vehicles registered (accounted for) in the Republic of Armenia, has not been paid;

o) the vehicle is, without appropriate permission, equipped with flashing beacons and (or) special sound signals, or colour-graphic images, inscriptions and other markings are applied to the outer surface of the body without appropriate permission, or they do not comply with the requirements of legislation or standards;

p) the vehicle is equipped with aggregates or units having forged or altered (erased) numbers;

q) the driver lacks an eye or an upper or lower limb, a hand or a foot, or has a movement-restricting deformity of the hand or foot, as well as deformities and defects of the fingers or phalanges of the hands leading to a severe impairment of limb function, except in cases of driving vehicles adapted to the abilities of that person.

r) in other cases established by law.

2. Operation is also prohibited for those automobiles, buses, road trains, trailers, motorcycles, mopeds, motorised sidecars, tractors and other self-propelled machines whose technical condition and equipment do not comply with the list, established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, of malfunctions and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited.

3. Vehicles creating an obstacle for traffic participants or standing in places where parking is prohibited are moved to a special territory if the driver is absent or refuses to eliminate the obstacle or the violation of the parking rules.

4. In the case provided for by part 5 of this Article, the search (wanted notice) for a vehicle is declared by the Chief of Police (deputies) or officials authorised by the Chief of Police.

5. A search for a vehicle may be declared when an offence has been committed with that vehicle.

6. The movement of a vehicle, detected by the police, travelling without a document certifying payment of the road tax or an exemption is stopped until receipts are presented certifying payment of the road tax established in the manner and amount established by law and of the penalties provided for late payment thereof.

(Article 18 amended by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; supplemented and amended by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; supplemented by HO-183-N of 21.12.15 and HO-11-N of 21.12.15; revised and supplemented by HO-281-N of 21.12.17; revised by HO-58-N of 20.01.21; amended by HO-476-N of 16.12.22)

(the Law HO-476-N of 16.12.22 has a final part and transitional provisions)

Article 18.1.Procedure for bringing vehicles to a special territory and placing them under arrest (impounding)

1. In the cases provided for by points “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e”, “f”, “g”, “h”, “i”, “j”, “m”, “n”, “o”, “p” and “q” of part one of Article 18 of this Law, the person regulating road traffic is obliged, in the manner established by this Article, having brought the vehicle to a guarded special territory, to place it under arrest. In the cases provided for by points “a”, “b”, “c”, “d”, “e” and “f” of part one of Article 18 of this Law, with the consent of the vehicle's driver, the vehicle may be handed over to a person entitled to drive a vehicle of the given category.

2. Bringing-in is a temporary compulsory measure to terminate the use of a vehicle, which includes (where it is impossible to eliminate at the place of detection of the administrative offence the reason for placing under arrest) moving it to a special territory.

3. Where grounds exist for bringing in a vehicle and placing it under arrest, the authorised official carries out the necessary actions to remove the driver from driving the vehicle in the manner established by Article 24.1 of this Law and to bring the vehicle to the special territory.

4. The movement of the vehicle to the special territory is carried out by the authorised official personally or with the help of another vehicle.

5. In the absence of the vehicle's driver, the person bringing it in immediately reports its bringing-in to the special territory to the police operational management centre. The police operational management centre, where possible — immediately, and where this is not possible — upon application by the owner of the vehicle or his representative, informs them of the location of the vehicle.

6. Vehicles belonging to the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia are brought in pursuant to this Article, being placed at garrison assembly points.

Vehicles carrying explosive, flammable, radioactive and strongly acting toxic substances and other special cargo are brought in pursuant to this Article, being placed in territories guarded by the state authorised body of the rescue service.

A trolleybus is brought in pursuant to this Article, being placed in the appropriate depot.

The procedure for bringing in and handing over to the relevant bodies vehicles belonging to the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, those carrying explosive, flammable, radioactive and strongly acting toxic substances and other special cargo, as well as trolleybuses, is established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

7. On bringing a vehicle to a special territory and placing it under arrest, the authorised official draws up a record, the form of which is established by order of the Chief of Police.

The record states a list of the items in the brought-in vehicle. A copy of the record is handed to the person against whom the coercive measure has been applied and, in the case of moving the vehicle to a special territory, also to the person responsible for keeping the vehicle on the special territory.

8. The period of placing the vehicle under arrest and of storage is calculated in days and hours, starting from the moment of its placement on the special territory.

9. If the person managing the vehicle or responsible for its operation, within 120 hours from the moment of taking the vehicle under arrest:

a) eliminates the reasons for the arrest — the police immediately releases the vehicle from arrest;

b) does not eliminate the reasons for the arrest, or, having eliminated them, does not take the vehicle from the special territory — in order to cover the costs of storing the vehicle, a charge is levied from the driver (owner, owner's representative) for each subsequent full day in the amount of 50 per cent of the minimum wage established by law.

10. In the case of voluntary non-payment by the driver (owner, owner's representative) of the storage costs, they are subject to recovery in the manner established by law.

11. The procedure established by point “b” of part nine of this Article does not apply to cases of placing a vehicle under arrest where the grounds provided for by point “j” of part one of Article 18 of this Law exist; and when placing a vehicle under arrest where the grounds provided for by point “m” of part one of Article 18 of this Law exist, it applies 120 hours after notifying the driver (owner, owner's representative) of the vehicle upon completion of the consideration of the case.

12. Where the law provides for confiscation of an item that is the instrument or direct object of the offence, the reasons for placing the vehicle under arrest are eliminated by the authorised official.

13. The driver (owner, owner's representative) is permitted to approach the vehicle stored on the special territory only in the presence of the person responsible for its storage.

14. The authorised official, having ascertained that the reasons for bringing in the vehicle have been eliminated, gives written permission to release the vehicle placed under arrest on the special territory and makes a corresponding note in the record on bringing the vehicle to the special territory and placing it under arrest.

15. The brought-in vehicle is handed over to the driver (owner, owner's representative) after full payment of the costs of storing the vehicle on the special territory.

16. On the special territories, accounting is kept of the brought-in and arrested vehicles, the procedure for which is established by a normative order of the Chief of Police.

(Article 18.1 supplemented by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; amended by HO-171-N of 15.11.10 and HO-240-N of 14.11.19; revised by HO-251-N of 03.07.25)

(the Law HO-251-N of 03.07.25 has a transitional provision)

Article 18.2.Prohibition of the operation of vehicles by taking away the registration document or suspending the validity of the digital registration document

(heading revised by HO-278-N of 09.12.19; supplemented by HO-257-N of 03.07.25)

1. Where the grounds provided for by points “k”, “l” of part 1 and by part 2 of Article 18 of this Law exist, the police officer ensuring road traffic safety is obliged to record the violation and to take away the registration document of the vehicle, and in the case of its digital version — to suspend its validity.

2. In the cases provided for by points “k” and “l” of part 1 of Article 18 of this Law, when the registration document of the vehicle is taken away or the validity of the digital registration certificate is suspended, the driver is issued a temporary document for a period of 10 days — to pass technical inspection, or to eliminate the malfunctions or conditions revealed by the technical inspection, established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited, or to restore the factory appearance, or to legalise the re-equipment. The form of the temporary registration document of the vehicle is established by the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

3. When prohibiting the operation of vehicles by taking away the registration document of the vehicle or suspending the validity of its digital version and issuing a temporary document, the authorised official makes an entry in the record of the administrative offence.

4. After the grounds for prohibiting the operation of the vehicle by taking away the registration document of the vehicle have been eliminated, the validity of the digital registration certificate is immediately restored, and the registration document is immediately returned to the driver, owner or owner's representative of the vehicle.

(Article 18.2 supplemented by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; revised by HO-278-N of 09.12.19; amended by HO-58-N of 20.01.21; supplemented by HO-257-N of 03.07.25)

(the Law HO-257-N of 03.07.25 has a transitional provision)

1. The owner of a vehicle is obliged to ensure the technically sound condition of the vehicle in accordance with the conditions permitting the operation of the vehicle and the list of malfunctions and conditions under which operation is prohibited.

2. The driver of a vehicle is obliged to:

a) before starting movement, check:

1) the facts that the vehicle has passed technical inspection and has not been unlawfully re-equipped;

2) the soundness of the braking system, steering, headlights and rear position lights (in the hours of darkness, in conditions of insufficient visibility) or of the windscreen wiper on the driver's side (during rain or snowfall), of the coupling device (in a road train), as well as the conformity of the residual tread-pattern depth of the tyres with the established norms. This requirement also applies to the driver during movement;

b) at the request of a police officer:

1) in cases established by law, not to hinder police officers in inspecting the vehicle and cargo in his presence and in the presence of citizens (the inspection of military vehicles is carried out with the participation of a representative of the relevant body);

2) where there are sufficient grounds to believe he is in a state of intoxication, undergo the appropriate check to determine the state of sobriety (the sobriety of drivers of military vehicles is determined in the presence of a representative of the relevant body);

c) for the purpose of assistance, provide the vehicle:

1) to police officers — to transport persons in need of urgent medical aid to a medical institution;

2) to medical workers travelling in the same direction to provide medical aid (with the driver's consent);

3) to police officers — in the cases and manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia;

d) in the event of being involved in a road traffic accident, immediately stop and (or) not move the vehicle, switch on the hazard warning lights, place the “Emergency stop” identification sign, not move the objects connected with the accident and, where present, also the bodies, not change the position of the vehicles involved in the road traffic accident relative to each other and to road infrastructure facilities, not damage or alter the traces, and then act in accordance with the requirements of the norms established by parts 4 and 4.1 of this Article. In order to ensure post-accident safety at the accident site, the hazard warning lights of vehicles stopped right by the site for assistance must also be on.

3. In the cases provided for by subpoint 1 of point “c” of part two of this Article, if the driver voluntarily fails to provide the vehicle, the police officer is entitled to remove him from driving the vehicle and to use the vehicle. This requirement does not apply to drivers of vehicles belonging to operational services, diplomatic and consular missions and representations of foreign states, international organisations and persons with disabilities.

Police officers may also remove drivers of vehicles from driving them in other cases established by law.

4. If people have been killed or injured as a result of a road traffic accident, the driver involved in the road traffic accident is obliged to:

1) take the necessary measures to render first aid to the injured, call the “Emergency Medical Service” or another specialised service and report the road traffic accident to the police;

2) in extreme cases, send the injured on a passing vehicle or, if that is impossible, transport them in his own vehicle to the nearest medical organisation, report there his name, surname and the vehicle's registration plate (presenting an identity document or driving licence and the vehicle's registration document), and return to the accident site;

3) take all possible lawful measures to organise the bypassing of the accident site by other road users;

4) wait for the arrival of officers of the police or of another competent body, and then act on their instructions.

4.1. If property damage has been caused as a result of a road traffic accident, and if the circumstances of the infliction of damage connected with the damage to property as a result of the road traffic accident, and the nature and list of visible damage to the vehicles, between the participants of the road traffic accident:

1) give rise to disagreements, or do not give rise to disagreements but the characteristics of the road traffic accident (the number of vehicles participating in the accident and (or) the amount of expected compensation) do not correspond to the conditions set for the process of compensating injured parties for damage by filling in an agreed declaration, provided for by the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Compulsory Insurance of Liability Arising from the Use of Motor Vehicles”, then the driver involved in the road traffic accident is obliged to report what has happened to the police and, before the arrival of officers of the police or of another competent body, record by means of photography and video recording the position of the vehicles involved in the road traffic accident relative to each other and to road infrastructure facilities, the traces, the objects and the damage to the vehicles or other property, ensure that the vehicles involved in the road traffic accident are moved from the accident site, no later than within 15 minutes from the moment of the accident, to a place that does not create an obstacle for traffic participants, except in cases where there is an objective impossibility of moving the vehicle (as a result of the accident the motor vehicle has such a technical malfunction in the presence of which its operation is prohibited or impossible), or the accident occurred on a section that does not create an obstacle for traffic participants, and wait for the arrival of persons of the police or of another competent body;

2) do not give rise to disagreements, then the drivers involved in the road traffic accident are not obliged to report what has happened to the police and may:

a. independently draw up documents concerning the road traffic accident in accordance with the conditions set for the process of compensating injured parties for damage by filling in an agreed declaration, provided for by the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Compulsory Insurance of Liability Arising from the Use of Motor Vehicles”, and, no later than within 15 minutes from the moment of the accident, remove the vehicles from the accident site, if the characteristics of the road traffic accident (the number of vehicles participating in the accident and (or) the amount of expected compensation) correspond to the conditions set for the process of compensating injured parties for damage by filling in an agreed declaration, provided for by the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Compulsory Insurance of Liability Arising from the Use of Motor Vehicles”,

b. not draw up documents concerning the road traffic accident, if as a result of the road traffic accident only the vehicles or other property of its participants have been damaged, and none of the participants wishes to draw up the said documents and (or) to make claims against one another (including through insurance companies).

4.2. In the cases provided for by subpoints “a” and “b” of point 2 of part 4.1 of this Article, where the drivers subsequently submit to the police an application or report concerning the said accident, no proceedings are conducted, and the application or report is left without consequences.

4.3. In the cases provided for by point 1 of part 4.1 of this Article, the police, while ensuring road traffic safety, collects data on the participants of the road traffic accident, their vehicles and the circumstances of the accident, drawing up records of the accident and of the initial technical data of the circumstances of the accident. The record of the initial technical data of the circumstances of the accident may not be drawn up if the road traffic accident occurred in the daytime — during daylight hours, in conditions of sufficient visibility, and there is a video recording of the moment it occurred and of the actions of the participants of the accident immediately following it. The records of the accident and of the initial technical data of the circumstances of the accident, as well as any document, information, video, photograph or other material related to the given road traffic accident, may be provided (made accessible) in any manner to the Armenian Motor Insurers' Bureau and (or) its member insurance companies and (or) third parties for the settlement of the compensation process for the road traffic accident, including the conduct of expert examinations and the performance of other necessary actions in the field of compulsory motor third-party liability insurance. The form of the record of the accident and the information contained therein, as well as the requirements for the composition and structure of the initial technical data of the circumstances of the accident, are approved by the Chief of Police in agreement with the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia.

4.4. (part repealed — HO-399-N of 03.07.26)

5. The driver of a power-driven vehicle, as well as of a tram, in addition to what is stated in part two of this Article, is obliged to:

a) have with him and, at the request of police officers and of other persons authorised to regulate road traffic in the manner established by law, present for checking:

1) the driving licence for the right to drive a vehicle of the given category or subcategory or its digital version (or a temporary driving licence or permit to drive a vehicle together with an identity document), and in the cases indicated therein — also a medical certificate;

2) the registration documents of the vehicle (or the digital version of the registration certificate);

3) (subpoint repealed — HO-72-N of 21.02.07);

4) other documents provided by law for carrying passengers and goods (permission to carry heavy, oversized and dangerous goods, etc.);

b) when driving vehicles equipped with seat belts provided for by the construction, be belted up and not carry passengers who are not belted up. It is permitted not to belt up children under 12 years (except in cases of mandatory belting established by law), as well as the person teaching driving when the vehicle is driven by the learner, and in built-up areas, in addition, the drivers and passengers of vehicles of operational services and of vehicles with a colour-graphic body livery;

c) when riding a motorcycle, as well as when riding a moped or bicycle on the carriageway, wear a fastened helmet and not carry passengers without a fastened helmet.

6. The driver of a power-driven vehicle participating in international road traffic is obliged to:

a) have with him a driving licence and a vehicle registration certificate complying with the requirements for documents for international road traffic and, where there are international treaties concluded by the Republic of Armenia with other states — also other documents;

b) have on the vehicle registration plates in Latin letters and Arabic numerals and the distinguishing mark of the country in which the vehicle is registered.

7. The driver is prohibited from:

a) driving the vehicle in a state of intoxication;

b) handing over the driving of the vehicle to persons in a state of intoxication or not having with them a driving licence for the right to drive a vehicle of the given {{category;

c|sf-term:category-c}}) leaving his place or the vehicle if he has not taken all the necessary measures excluding the spontaneous movement of the vehicle or its use in his absence;

d) opening the doors of the vehicle while it is moving;

e) opening the doors of the vehicle even during a stop, if this will hinder other road users;

f) while driving, using radio and telephone communication unless equipped with hands-free devices (except drivers of vehicles of operational services performing a service task), or smoking while driving;

g) throwing things and objects out of the vehicle.

h) after a road traffic accident in which he is involved, or after the vehicle has been stopped by a police officer, until the examination of the state of sobriety has been carried out or a decision has been taken to release him from the examination of the state of sobriety, consuming alcoholic beverages, psychotropic or other consciousness-clouding substances;

i) installing in vehicles silencers not complying with the standard, or additional amplifiers or loudspeakers for players.

8. (part repealed — HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

9. (part repealed — HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

10. (part repealed — HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

11. (part repealed — HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

12. (part repealed — HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

(Article 24 amended and supplemented by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; amended and supplemented by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; supplemented by HO-183-N of 21.12.15; amended by HO-218-N of 23.03.18; amended and supplemented by HO-278-N of 09.12.19; amended by HO-65-N of 07.02.24; supplemented by HO-254-N of 03.07.25, HO-257-N of 03.07.25 and HO-312-N of 02.10.25; amended by HO-399-N of 03.07.26)

(Law HO-257-N of 03.07.25 has a transitional provision)

Article 24.2.Additional requirements for the movement of cyclists and drivers of mopeds

1. The movement of cyclists over 14 years of age is carried out along cycle paths or cycle-and-pedestrian paths or along the lane for cyclists.

2. The movement of cyclists over 14 years of age is permitted:

1) along the right edge of the carriageway in the following cases:

a. there are no cycle paths and cycle-and-pedestrian paths or lane for cyclists, or movement along them is impossible,

b. the overall width of the bicycle, bicycle trailer or load being carried exceeds 1 m,

c. the movement of cyclists is carried out in a column;

2) along the shoulder, if there are no cycle paths and cycle-and-pedestrian paths or lane for cyclists, or movement along them or along the right edge of the carriageway is impossible;

3) along the pavement or pedestrian path in the following cases:

a. there are no cycle paths and cycle-and-pedestrian paths or lane for cyclists, or movement along them, along the right edge of the carriageway or along the shoulder is impossible,

b. the cyclist is accompanying a cyclist under 14 years of age or is carrying a child under 7 years of age on an additional seat, in a bicycle carriage or in a bicycle trailer.

3. The movement of cyclists aged from 7 to 14 years is carried out only along pavements, pedestrian paths, cycle paths and cycle-and-pedestrian paths, as well as within pedestrian zones.

4. The movement of cyclists under 7 years of age is carried out only along pavements, pedestrian paths and cycle-and-pedestrian paths (on the side intended for the movement of pedestrians), as well as within pedestrian zones.

5. When cyclists move along the right edge of the carriageway, the cyclists must move only in a single file.

6. The movement of a column of cyclists in two rows is permitted if the overall width of the bicycles does not exceed 0.75 m.

7. When moving in a single file, a column of cyclists is divided into groups of 10 cyclists each, and when moving in two rows — of 10 pairs of cyclists each. To facilitate overtaking, the distance between the groups must be 80–100 m.

8. If the movement of a cyclist along the pavement, pedestrian path or shoulder or within pedestrian zones endangers or hinders the movement of other persons, the cyclist is obliged to dismount from the bicycle and follow the requirements provided for by law for the movement of pedestrians.

9. Drivers of mopeds must move along the right edge of the carriageway in a single file or along the lane for cyclists.

10. The movement of drivers of mopeds along the shoulders is permitted if this does not hinder pedestrians.

11. Cyclists and drivers of mopeds are prohibited from:

1) riding the bicycle or moped without holding the handlebars;

2) carrying a load that interferes with control or that by length or width protrudes more than 0.5 m beyond the dimensions of this vehicle;

3) carrying a passenger if this is not provided for by the construction of the vehicle;

4) carrying a child under 7 years of age in the absence of a seat specially equipped for him or outside that seat;

5) making a left turn or U-turn on roads with tram traffic, as well as on roads having more than one traffic lane in the given direction;

6) crossing the road at pedestrian crossings;

7) for cyclists and drivers of mopeds delivering goods, riding the bicycle or moped without a helmet intended for that vehicle or with an unfastened helmet.

12. The towing of bicycles and mopeds, as well as towing by bicycles and mopeds, is prohibited, except for towing a bicycle trailer or a trailer intended for operation with a bicycle or moped.

13. At an unregulated intersection of a cycle path with a road outside a junction, cyclists and the drivers of mopeds must give way to vehicles moving along the road.

14. In addition to the regulation provided for by this Article, the places in the community where movement by bicycle and moped is prohibited, and the additional conditions, requirements and restrictions, are established by the council of elders of the community.

(Article 24.2 supplemented by HO-278-N of 09.12.19, HO-361-N of 02.10.24 and HO-399-N of 03.07.26)

Article 24.3.Additional requirements for the movement of horse-drawn carts (sledges) and for driving pack and saddle animals, as well as livestock

1. Driving a horse-drawn cart (sledge), or driving pack or saddle animals or livestock, along the carriageway is permitted to persons who have reached 14 years.

2. Horse-drawn carts (sledges) must be driven, and pack and saddle animals driven, in a single file, along the edge of the carriageway, as far to the right as possible. Movement along the shoulders is permitted if it does not hinder pedestrians.

3. Columns of horse-drawn carts (sledges), pack and saddle animals, when moving along the carriageway, must be divided into groups, of 10 pack or saddle animals or of 5 horse-drawn carts (sledges) each. To facilitate overtaking the groups, the distance between them must be 80–100 m.

4. The driver of a horse-drawn cart (sledge), when exiting onto the road from an adjacent territory or a minor road in places with a limited view, must lead the animals by the bridle.

5. Animals should, as a rule, be driven along the road in daylight hours, directing them as far as possible towards the right edge of the road.

6. When driving animals across railway tracks, they must be divided into groups in such a way that, given the number of drovers, the safe crossing of each group can be ensured.

7. Drivers of horse-drawn carts (sledges) and drovers of pack and saddle animals and livestock are prohibited from:

1) leaving animals on the road unattended;

2) driving animals across railway tracks and roads outside the places designated for this, as well as in the hours of darkness and in conditions of insufficient visibility (except driving livestock across railway tracks or the road at different levels);

3) where other routes exist, driving animals on roads with asphalt-concrete and cement-concrete surfaces;

4) grazing animals on the landscaped dividing strip of the road, on territories closer than 100 m to the road, as well as accumulating them on carriageways and pavements.

8. It is prohibited to drive a horse-drawn cart if it:

1) is not equipped with a parking brake provided for by the construction and with anti-rollback chocks;

2) does not have at the front two white reflectors or lamps (for movement in the hours of darkness or in conditions of insufficient visibility);

3) does not have at the rear two red reflectors or lamps.

(Article 24.3 supplemented by HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

Article 24.4.Requirements for the movement of personal mobility (movement) devices

1. Movement on personal mobility (movement) devices by persons over 18 years of age, as well as by persons who have reached 16 years and hold the right to drive a vehicle of subcategory “AM”, is permitted:

1) along cycle or cycle-and-pedestrian paths or along a lane for cyclists;

2) along the pavement or pedestrian path, if there are no cycle and cycle-and-pedestrian paths or lane for cyclists, or movement along them is impossible;

3) along the shoulder, if there are no cycle and cycle-and-pedestrian paths, lane for cyclists, pavement or pedestrian path, or movement along them is impossible;

4) along the right edge of the carriageway in the following cases:

a. there are no cycle and cycle-and-pedestrian paths, lane for cyclists, pavement, pedestrian path or shoulder, or movement along them is impossible,

b. the personal mobility (movement) device is equipped with a brake, a sound signal, reflectors — white at the front, orange or red at the sides and red at the rear — and a white headlamp (lamp) at the front, which must be switched on in the hours of darkness or in conditions of insufficient visibility.

2. On the carriageway, the movement of personal mobility (movement) devices is permitted in a single file.

3. Movement on personal mobility (movement) devices by persons under 18 years of age is permitted only in places established by the community council, except for persons who have reached 16 years and hold the right to drive a vehicle of subcategory “AM”.

4. The speed of a personal mobility (movement) device must not exceed 25 km/h.

5. In the joint movement of pedestrians and personal mobility (movement) devices, pedestrians have priority in all cases.

6. If the movement of a person using personal mobility (movement) devices to move along the pavement, pedestrian path or edge of the carriageway endangers or hinders the movement of pedestrians, the person using the personal mobility (movement) device is obliged to stop using it or to reduce speed and use it at a speed not exceeding the speed of pedestrian movement.

7. The following are prohibited:

1) carrying on a personal mobility (movement) device a passenger or load (except luggage (constituting a single whole) held by the user of the personal mobility (movement) device without the use of hands), or another personal mobility (movement) device (devices);

2) the use on the carriageway and along the lane for cyclists of personal mobility (movement) devices on a single axle (axis) without a steering control system;

3) handing over a personal mobility (movement) device for use to persons who have not reached 18 years, except in the case established by part 3 of this Article, where the duty of supervision over the driving of the personal mobility (movement) device in the established place is borne by the person handing over the personal mobility (movement) device;

4) using a personal mobility (movement) device that has handlebars without holding the handlebars;

5) crossing the road at pedestrian crossings while using a personal mobility (movement) device;

6) the use of personal mobility (movement) devices on roads outside built-up areas;

7) the operation of personal mobility (movement) devices, in places permitted for movement, on a surface with a covering that is wet (including with snow) for meteorological or other reasons;

8) the use of a personal mobility (movement) device by persons delivering goods without a helmet intended for cyclists or with an unfastened helmet;

9) the towing of a personal mobility (movement) device, as well as towing by a personal mobility (movement) device;

10) driving a personal mobility (movement) device in places prohibited by the community council;

11) driving a personal mobility (movement) device in tunnels.

8. Organisations (persons) carrying out the function of providing personal mobility (movement) devices for rent are obliged to exclude the possibility of driving personal mobility (movement) devices within a built-up area at a speed exceeding 25 km/h or in places prohibited by the community council.

9. Personal mobility (movement) devices may be handed over for operation by organisations (persons), and operated by natural persons, exclusively if they are equipped with a speed-measuring device.

10. In addition to the regulation provided for by this Article, the places in the community where the movement of personal mobility (movement) devices is prohibited, and the additional conditions, requirements and restrictions, are established by the community council.

(Article 24.4 supplemented by HO-361-N of 02.10.24; amended by HO-399-N of 03.07.26)

Article 25.Basic obligations of pedestrians

1. Pedestrians are obliged to move along pavements or pedestrian paths and, in their absence, along the shoulders. Pedestrians carrying large objects, as well as those moving in non-motorised wheelchairs, may move along the edge of the carriageway if their movement hinders other pedestrians moving along the pavements and paths.

2. In the absence of pavements, pedestrian paths or shoulders, as well as where it is impossible to move along them, pedestrians may move along the cycle path or along the edge of the carriageway, in a single file (on roads with dividing strips — along the outer edge of the carriageway).

3. When moving along the carriageway, pedestrians must walk towards the flow of vehicles, while those moving in non-motorised wheelchairs, as well as persons leading a motorcycle, moped or bicycle, must move in the direction of the flow of vehicles.

4. The movement of organised pedestrian columns along the carriageway is permitted only on the right side, no more than 4 people abreast, in the direction of the flow of vehicles. On the left side of the column, at the front and at the rear, there must be escorts with red flags, and in the hours of darkness and in conditions of insufficient visibility — with lit lamps: white at the front and red at the rear.

5. Groups of children may be led only along pavements and pedestrian paths and, in their absence, along the shoulders, but only in daylight hours and accompanied by adults.

6. Pedestrians must cross the carriageway at pedestrian crossings and, in their absence, at intersections along the line of the pavements or shoulders.

7. If there is no pedestrian crossing or intersection in view, roads without a dividing strip or barrier may be crossed at a right angle to the edge of the carriageway, on sections well visible from both sides.

8. In places where traffic is regulated, pedestrians must follow the signals of the regulator or the pedestrian traffic light and, in their absence, the signals of the vehicle traffic light.

At unregulated pedestrian crossings, pedestrians may step onto the carriageway only after assessing the speed of the approaching vehicle and the distance to it and having ascertained that the crossing is safe for them.

9. Pedestrians crossing the carriageway outside pedestrian crossings must not create obstacles for moving vehicles, and from behind a standing vehicle or another obstacle limiting visibility they may step out only after ascertaining the absence of approaching vehicles.

10. Having stepped onto the carriageway, pedestrians must not stop or linger on it if the crossing is safe. Pedestrians who have not managed to finish the crossing must stop on the safety island or on the line dividing the transport flows of opposite directions. The crossing may be continued only after ascertaining the safety of further movement.

11. When vehicles with a switched-on blue, or blue and red, flashing beacon and a special sound signal are approaching, pedestrians must not begin crossing the carriageway, and those on it must give way to the said vehicles and those escorted by them, immediately clearing the carriageway.

12. Public-transport route vehicles and a passenger taxi may be awaited only on boarding platforms raised above the carriageway and, in their absence, on pavements or shoulders. At stopping points not equipped with raised boarding platforms, it is permitted to step onto the carriageway only after the approaching vehicle has stopped. After getting out of the vehicle, the carriageway must be cleared immediately.

(Article 25 amended and supplemented by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; amended by HO-171-N of 15.11.10 and HO-65-N of 07.02.24)

Article 28.Basic requirements for the training of a vehicle driver

1. Persons who have reached the age established by part four of this Article and who do not have contraindications provided by law connected with driving activity, including with the state of health, may, after undergoing training under the curriculum and programme approved by the authorised body of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, participate, in the manner established by law, in the qualification examinations for the right to drive a vehicle.

1.1. A person learning to drive a vehicle must be at least 16 years old.

1.2. Persons who have studied independently may also participate, in the manner established by law, in the qualification examinations for obtaining a driving licence of categories “A”, “B” and “C”, as well as subcategories “AM”, “A1”, “B1” and “C1”.

1.3. A person who has applied for obtaining a driving licence of categories “A”, “B” and “BE”, as well as subcategories “AM”, “A1” and “B1” (including for the exchange of a driving licence or for obtaining a duplicate of a driving licence), undergoes medical certification if:

1) in the course of the process of obtaining a driving licence it is evident that he may have a contraindication, indication or restriction established by Article 22.1 of this Law that constitutes an obstacle to operating a vehicle (an upper or lower limb, a hand or a foot is missing, or there is a movement-restricting deformity of the hand or foot, as well as deformities and defects of the fingers or phalanges of the hands, neck or back problems, evident visual impairments or absence of an eye, evident hearing impairments);

2) the completed declaration on the state of health contains a note on a state of health that prevents driving a vehicle.

1.4. In the cases provided for by points 1 and 2 of part 1.3 of this Article, the referral for medical certification is issued by the authorised body for internal affairs to the person who has applied for obtaining a driving licence at the moment of submitting the application for obtaining a driving licence (including for the exchange of a driving licence or for obtaining a duplicate of a driving licence).

1.5. The forms of the referral for medical certification and of the declaration on the state of health are established by decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

1.6. Persons applying for obtaining for the first time a driving licence for the right to drive vehicles of categories “C”, “D”, “T” and “CE”, “DE”, subcategories “C1”, “D1” and “C1E”, “D1E” must submit to the authorised body for internal affairs a certificate of having undergone medical certification.

1.7. A person who has applied for the exchange of a driving licence for the right to drive vehicles of categories “C”, “D”, “T” and “CE”, “DE”, subcategories “C1”, “D1” and “C1E”, “D1E” or for obtaining a duplicate of a driving licence must undergo medical certification if in the course of the process of obtaining a driving licence it is evident that he may have a contraindication, indication or restriction established by Article 22.1 of this Law that constitutes an obstacle to operating a vehicle (restriction of movements or deformities of the arms, legs or fingers, or their absence, neck or back problems, evident visual impairments or absence of an eye, evident hearing impairments), or the completed declaration on the state of health contains a note on a state of health that prevents driving a vehicle.

1.8. The personal data of persons who have health problems preventing the driving of a vehicle, who are subject to narcological medical aid and services, as well as who are registered with psychiatric organisations, are processed electronically and, at the moment of submission of an application for obtaining a driving licence (for the exchange of a driving licence or for obtaining a duplicate of a lost driving licence), in the case of an electronic request, become accessible to the authorised body for internal affairs and to the police through the unified electronic database of the authorised body in the field of healthcare.

2. (part repealed — HO-72-N of 21.02.07)

3. Only candidate drivers may participate in the practical examination.

4. A person who has reached 17 years may become a candidate driver, except for a candidate driver of a vehicle of subcategory “AM”. A person who has reached 16 years may become a candidate driver of a vehicle of subcategory “AM”.

5. (part repealed — HO-72-N of 21.02.07)

6. A person teaching practical driving on an individual basis must hold a driving licence for the right to drive a vehicle of the given category.

7. Initial training in practical driving of vehicles is carried out at a driving range or driving ground and, in their absence — on a closed territory isolated from road traffic, equipped with the technical means necessary for initial practical driving of vehicles.

8. A vehicle used for training in practical driving must have an appropriate identification sign and be equipped with a rear-view mirror for the instructor, as well as additional clutch (except vehicles with automatic transmission) and brake pedals. Training in practical driving may be carried out on those roads where carrying it out is not prohibited by the local self-government bodies.

9. In the event of a violation of the traffic rules by a candidate driver undergoing training in practical driving, liability in the manner established by law is borne by the driver-instructor of the training institution or by the person teaching practical driving on an individual basis.

10. (part repealed — HO-228-N of 08.12.10)

11. (part repealed — HO-228-N of 08.12.10)

(Article 28 amended and supplemented by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; amended by HO-22-N of 26.12.08; supplemented and amended by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; amended by HO-228-N of 08.12.10, HO-332-N of 08.12.11 and HO-183-N of 21.12.15; amended and supplemented by HO-278-N of 09.12.19; amended by HO-476-N of 16.12.22)

(Law HO-476-N of 16.12.22 has a final part and transitional provisions)

Article 29.Termination of the right to drive and loss of validity of a driving licence

(title amended by HO-278-N of 09.12.19)

1. A person's right to drive terminates if:

1) there is a court decision, entered into legal force, declaring him legally incapable;

2) there is information on his mental illness, illness caused by the use of narcotic drugs and (or) psychotropic (psychoactive) substances, and (or) on the non-conformity of his state of health with the conditions established by law;

3) there is a judicial act of a court on deprivation of the right to drive, entered into legal force, or an act of another competent body, entered into force;

4) he has died.

2. A person's driving licence loses validity if:

1) there is any of the grounds provided for by part 1 of this Article;

2) the validity period of the driving licence has expired;

3) the driving licence has been lost, and the person has applied for a new licence or has reported the loss.

2.1.

2.2.

3. In the case of detection of a driving licence that has lost validity on the grounds provided for by points 1 and 2 of part 2 of this Article, the police seizes that driving licence.

4. The right to drive terminated on the grounds provided for by points 1 and 2 of part 1 of this Article, as well as on the basis of a judicial act of a court on deprivation of the right to drive, entered into legal force, or an act of another competent body of a foreign state, entered into force, provided for by point 3, is restored after the ground for termination of the right to drive has ceased to exist — after taking the qualification examinations.

5. The right to drive granted by the competent bodies of the Republic of Armenia and terminated on the basis of an act of another competent body of the Republic of Armenia (the police) on deprivation of the right to drive, entered into force, provided for by point 3 of part 1 of this Article, after the ground for termination of the right to drive has ceased to exist — within one year, in the case of an application, is restored once without taking the qualification examinations — upon payment of the state duty established by law, and a probationary period of one year is established, while the second or subsequent times — after taking the qualification examinations.

(Article 29 supplemented and amended by HO-72-N of 21.02.07; supplemented by HO-171-N of 15.11.10; amended by HO-278-N of 09.12.19 and HO-62-N of 04.03.26; amended and supplemented by HO-241-N of 18.06.26)

(the Article, in respect of the amendment under point 2 of Article 2 of Law HO-62-N of 04.03.26, enters into force from the day interoperability is ensured between the electronic health system and the relevant electronic register of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia)

(Law HO-241-N of 18.06.26 has a transitional provision)

Road Traffic Safety Law

Chapter 1GENERAL PROVISIONS3

Article 1.Subject and objective of this Law

Article 2.Basic concepts used in this Law

Article 3.Legislation on ensuring road traffic safety

Chapter 2STATE POLICY IN THE FIELD OF ENSURING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY5

Article 4.State policy in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Article 5.Basic principles of state policy in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Article 6.Basic directions of state policy in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Chapter 3POWERS OF STATE ADMINISTRATION BODIES IN THE FIELD OF ENSURING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY3

Article 9.Powers of the Government of the Republic of Armenia in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Chapter 4BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ENSURING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY18

Article 11.Basic requirements for ensuring road traffic safety during the construction, reconstruction, repair and maintenance of roads and their engineering structures

Article 12.Restriction and (or) cessation of road traffic

Article 13.State registration, state accounting of vehicles and restrictions

Chapter 5RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ROAD USERS8

Article 23.Basic rights and obligations of road users

Chapter 6THE RIGHT TO DRIVE A VEHICLE4

Article 27.Classification of vehicles and the right to drive them

Chapter 7STATE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL IN THE FIELD OF ENSURING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY2

Article 31.State control and supervision in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Article 32.Coordination of certain types of activity in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Chapter 8LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION OF THE LEGISLATION ON ENSURING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY1

Article 33.Liability for violation of the legislation on ensuring road traffic safety

Chapter 8.1. LOGISTICAL SUPPORT OF THE ROAD POLICE IN THE FIELD OF ENSURING ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY2

Article 33.1.Off-budget fund for material incentives and technical development

Article 33.2.Amounts of the mandatory payments to be paid into the off-budget fund

Chapter 9FINAL PROVISION1

Article 34.Entry of the Law into force

Article 7.Organisation of road traffic

Article 8.Organisation of state accounting of the main indicators of the state of road traffic safety

Article 9.1.Powers of the authorised body of state administration in the field of internal affairs in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Article 10.Powers of the Police of the Republic of Armenia in the field of ensuring road traffic safety

Article 13.1.Transfer (provision) of the data of the state registration and state accounting of vehicles

Article 13.2.Registration plates of vehicles

Article 13.3.Basic conditions for holding electronic auctions for the allocation of special-demand registration plates of vehicles

Article 14.Basic requirements for ensuring road traffic safety during the operation of vehicles

Article 15.Technical inspection of vehicles

Article 16.Basic requirements for ensuring road traffic safety during the technical servicing and repair of a vehicle

Article 17.Grounds and procedure for stopping a vehicle

Article 18.Grounds for prohibiting the movement of a vehicle

Article 18.1.Procedure for bringing vehicles to a special territory and placing them under arrest (impounding)

Article 18.2.Prohibition of the operation of vehicles by taking away the registration document or suspending the validity of the digital registration document

Article 19.Measures for organising road traffic and requirements for ensuring safety in their course

Article 20.Duties of officials of organisations operating vehicles regarding the ensuring of road traffic safety

Article 21.Duties of persons responsible for the maintenance of the road and its engineering structures

Article 22.Medical support of road traffic safety

Article 22.1.Medical contraindications, indications and restrictions for operating a vehicle

Article 24.Basic obligations of owners and drivers of vehicles

Article 24.1.Procedure for removing the driver of a vehicle from driving it

Article 24.2.Additional requirements for the movement of cyclists and drivers of mopeds

Article 24.3.Additional requirements for the movement of horse-drawn carts (sledges) and for driving pack and saddle animals, as well as livestock

Article 24.4.Requirements for the movement of personal mobility (movement) devices

Article 25.Basic obligations of pedestrians

Article 26.Basic obligations of passengers

Article 28.Basic requirements for the training of a vehicle driver

Article 29.Termination of the right to drive and loss of validity of a driving licence

Article 30.Teaching citizens the rules of safe behaviour on motor roads