Postcard from Bishkek

The GAI (pronounced guy-EE) are the State Automobile Inspection – basically, Kyrgyzstan’s Traffic police.

The GAI have a mixed reputation in the country, possibly because the main contact between members of the public and officers of the service is when they stop vehicles at one of their roadside checks  to inspect documentation, or because of an alleged traffic violation and to impose an “on-the-spot”  fine.  This can be at either at a fixed post, (a roadside cabin), or at a non-fixed post which means they stop their own vehicle at the side of the road at some convenient point and wait beside it watching the traffic go by - unless, of course, they see a traffic violation in which case they waive a baton, instructing the driver to pull over.

In theory the officer must be in uniform, should approach the driver in his vehicle and salute. (just as the RAC patrols were supposed to salute member in the UK).  They should then explain why they have stopped the vehicle and act appropriately, that is inspect the documentation for the driver and vehicle or collect the fine.   In theory, when they impose a fine they are supposed to issue a receipt, but they rarely do and the suspicion is that most of the money collected is not accounted for.

However, the GAI do serve an important role.  They are responsible not only for these roadside inspections, but also for:

• registration of vehicles;
• conducting “techosmeotre” – basically a vehicle safety check;
• testing learner drivers and issuing driving licenses;
• approving and maintaining road signings, (including advertising hoardings), and traffic lights;
• investigating road traffic accidents;