Scandal with a minivan from Novaya Borovaya: mother was not allowed to carry child on her lap for free. Who is right?
A video from Minsk route taxi (minivan) №1152 is being discussed on social networks: a passenger wanted to travel by seating her child on her lap and buying one ticket for two, but the driver refused.
Illustrative photo
The situation occurred this week in route taxi (minivan) №1152, which goes from Novaya Borovaya to DS Loshitsa-2 in Minsk, writes "Pristalichcha". A woman boarded the transport and said that she would only pay for her fare — two rubles — and would take the child on her lap. The driver refused. He justified this by saying that the child was already large, and it was impossible for two people to buckle up in one seat, and in case of a traffic police check, this would be considered a violation.
The woman asked what to do about passengers who travel standing, apparently hinting that she had observed such situations before. The driver called this question "evasive".
The passenger only received a receipt upon exit — by demand, half an hour after boarding. She also noted that tickets were not issued to other passengers either.
Free travel: what the law says
According to Andrei Ilarionov, Deputy Director — Head of SE "Stalichny Transport i Svyaz", the right to free travel for children under seven years of age applies only to public transport — buses, trolleybuses, trams.
Route taxis (minivans) do not fall into this category, so the driver's demand for payment for a seven-year-old child's fare is absolutely lawful.
The specialist attributes the driver's refusal to carry the child on their lap primarily to ensuring passenger safety.
"In case of extreme braking, there is a risk of not being able to hold the child. Moreover, a seat belt is designed for one person, and buckling up two people together is not allowed by law. This is a common habit that can sooner or later end badly," explains Andrei Ilarionov.
As for passengers traveling standing, Andrei Ilarionov noted: there should be no such passengers in the cabin.
"Standing travel in M2 category vehicles, which include route taxis (minivans), is prohibited. Moreover, it is not even provided for by the vehicle manufacturer. If such a fact occurs, the driver faces a fine," noted the deputy director of the enterprise.
Is the driver obligated to issue receipts after payment for the trip? "Stalichny Transport i Svyaz" clarified that the driver is obliged to provide a cash receipt upon receiving cash or other forms of payment for travel. And on this point, the passenger's claims are justified.
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