Latvian Police Take to the Skies to Catch Traffic Offenders

Last week, Latvian law enforcement deployed a drone to monitor road safety, logging 18 violations in the areas around Kuldīga, Talsi and Ventspils. The aerial patrol focused primarily on railway crossings and junctions flagged for frequent reports of motorists ignoring STOP signs.

Further checks on stopped vehicles revealed more than just minor infractions. In one case, a moped rider who failed to halt at a railway crossing was found to have committed a string of serious breaches: the vehicle was unregistered and uninsured, the rider was under a driving ban, his medical certificate had expired, and he had accumulated multiple unpaid fines within the past year.

Police stress that the fine for running a STOP sign stands at just 30 euros. While the figure may seem modest compared to the potential consequences, authorities underline the point: stopping is not optional, it is mandatory. By employing drones, officers gain a vantage point that allows them to detect violations in places where human patrols or fixed observation alone cannot keep pace.