The Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee deliberated and approved the Draft Administrative Offenses Code for the I reading.

Under the draft law, the display and/or sale of used tires, scrap ferrous and non-ferrous metals, secondary vehicles and their parts, as well as easily flammable, explosive, or dust-emitting materials within the territory of the Tbilisi municipality in locations not designated for such purposes by the Tbilisi City Assembly, shall result in a fine of 2,500 GEL for a natural person and 5,000 GEL for a legal entity. The same act, if committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of 5,000 GEL for a natural person and 15,000 GEL for a legal entity.

If these violations are committed within a cultural heritage preservation zone defined by the Law On Cultural Heritage, the fine shall be 5,000 GEL for a natural person and 10,000 GEL for a legal entity. The same act, when committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of 10,000 GEL for a natural person and 30,000 GEL for a legal entity. Pursuant to the amendments, the placement and/or sale of used tires, scrap ferrous and non-ferrous metals, end-of-life vehicles and their parts, and easily flammable, explosive, or dust-emitting materials in locations designated for such purposes by the Tbilisi City Assembly if carried out in violation of the rules established by the Assembly, shall result in a fine of 1,000 GEL for a natural person and 2,500 GEL for a legal entity. The same act, if committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of 2,500 GEL for a natural person and 5,000 GEL for a legal entity.

As for the processing of dust-emitting material without the use of the wet suppression method, which fails to prevent the release of airborne particles, this shall result in a fine of 2,500 GEL for a natural person and 5,000 GEL for a legal entity. The same act, when committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of 5,000 GEL for a natural person and 10,000 GEL for a legal entity.

The draft law also provides for an increase in sanctions for violations related to the transportation of dust-emitting materials. Specifically, transportation of dust-emitting materials by an uncovered vehicle and/or a vehicle with an inadequately covered load, which fails to prevent the release of solid particles into the environment, shall result in a fine of 1,000 GEL for a natural person and 2,500 GEL for a legal entity. The same act, if committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of 2,500 GEL for a natural person and 5,000 GEL for a legal entity.

The movement of a vehicle without a washed cargo bed and/or without washed tires from the site of loading/unloading of dust-emitting material or from a construction site shall result in a fine of 2,500 GEL for a natural person and 5,000 GEL for a legal entity. The repeated commission of this act shall result in a fine of 5,000 GEL for a natural person and 10,000 GEL for a legal entity.

Sanctions are also increased for the spilling of concrete onto the roadway surface from a concrete mixer truck while in motion. This violation shall result in a fine of 2,500 GEL for a natural person and 5,000 GEL for a legal entity. The same act, if committed repeatedly, shall result in a fine of 5,000 GEL for a natural person and 10,000 GEL for a legal entity.

According to the reporter, Maia Bitadze, Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, the draft Administrative Offences Code was developed together with the Tbilisi City Hall, and its purpose is to increase administrative sanctions in five areas for which legislative regulation was introduced in 2019.