Fines for First Aid Kit and Fire Extinguisher in the Car – How Much Drivers Pay for Violations
In Ukraine, administrative liability is provided for the absence of a first aid kit or fire extinguisher in a car, as well as conditions for inspections and exceptions regarding the application of fines.
For private passenger cars, the fine is 340 UAH (part 1, article 121 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses). At the same time, lawyers note that the absence of a first aid kit or fire extinguisher is not considered a technical malfunction of the vehicle, so in some cases the sanction may be replaced by a warning under article 125 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
For vehicles used for commercial passenger transportation, the fine is 680 UAH (part 2, article 121 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses). A repeated violation within a year may result in the deprivation of the right to drive.
In addition, the police do not have the right to stop a vehicle solely to check for the presence of a first aid kit or fire extinguisher. A stop is possible only if there are legal grounds, for example, in case of traffic violations.
During the summer period, the risk of car fires increases due to high temperatures. In a closed trunk, it can reach 60–80°C, causing deformation of plastic elements of electronics and alarms, damage to wiring insulation, and possible short circuits even while parked.
A fire extinguisher stored in an overheated trunk also loses its functionality: pressure decreases, the powder clumps, which may cause the device to fail or be ineffective in case of fire.
Therefore, drivers need to follow basic safety rules:
- store the fire extinguisher in the car cabin in a special mount, not in the trunk;
- check the pressure gauge and expiration date annually;
- regularly check the first aid kit, especially the expiration dates of medications, including nitroglycerin and tourniquets, which can be critically important in case of an accident far from medical help.
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