How do they plan to combat smoking in unauthorized places in St. Petersburg?

The fight against smoking is going to be supplemented with new amendments and technologies. RosBalt found out how much fines for smoking in unauthorized places will increase and how «smart» cameras that fight irresponsible smokers will work in St. Petersburg.

The consumption of tobacco products in public places is regulated by the federal law «On protecting the health of citizens from the effects of environmental tobacco smoke and the consequences of tobacco consumption.»

Regional authorities may impose additional restrictions, but there is a general prohibition, violation of which will definitely result in a fine. Smoking is prohibited on the premises of educational, medical, sports and cultural institutions, as well as in hotels, government agencies, courts, train stations, playgrounds, gas stations and public transport stops.

Currently, fines for smokers range from 500 to 3,000 rubles, but these amounts can increase significantly.

Smokers are given 60 days to pay the fine. This must be done by the citizen in respect of whom the decision was made. You can deposit money through any bank or post office branch.

In Smolny they intend to fight smokers and vandals with the help of «smart» cameras. The device will recognize the faces of violators, and then transmit information to the data processing and storage center. More than two thousand of these «smart» assistants will appear throughout St. Petersburg; they will be placed at children’s and sports grounds.

Now the city authorities are looking for a contractor who will install cameras and integrate them with a unified video surveillance system. About 600 million rubles will be allocated from the city budget for these purposes.