Four New Regulations Take Effect in Georgia from March 1
On March 1, 2018, four new laws took effect in Georgia and its capital Tbilisi. Two of the four regulations apply only to Tbilisi and its residents.
From March 1, on 14 central streets of the capital, minibuses will stop only at bus stops, in order to defuse traffic jams in the city.
“At present, passengers are able to stop minibuses where they want and then cross the streets where it is not permitted. This is a very serious problem endangering both passengers and drivers. It must be changed,” Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated.
Tbilisi City Hall listed the 14 streets where, from March 1, minibuses will stop only at bus stops:
- Vazha Pshavela Ave.
- Shota Rustaveli Ave.
- Alexander Kazbegi Ave.
- David Aghmashenebeli Ave.
- Ilia Chavchavadze Ave.
- Marshal Gelovani Ave.
- Pekini Street
- Merab Kostava Street
- Petre Melikishvili Street
- Vakhtang Gorgasali Street
- Zhiuli Shartava Street
- George Bush Ave.
- David Aghmashenebeli Alley
- Kakheti Highway
The changes were adopted by the Mayor on December 20, 2017, and aim at reducing the traffic jams in the capital.
The second regulation which entered into force on March 1, refers to the pilot project of the Cleaning Service of Tbilisi, beginning in the central Vake district. On 32 streets of Vake, the Cleaning Service will empty bins on a night-time timetable in order to defuse the heavy traffic in the district and reduce the discomfort of residents.
Another law which entered into force this spring is insurance of vehicles registered abroad. The law reads that the owner of a registered vehicle in a foreign country will be required to purchase third person insurance upon entry into Georgia.
The fourth law now in force obliges all shopping centers, markets, malls, hotels and gas/petrol stations to be insured. The regulation was adopted on December 27, 2017 and also sets the insurance limits.
For markets and shopping centers, 30 thousand GEL is the maximum limit per affected person’s life and, in case of damage to one’s health, 15 thousand GEL has been set as the amount of compensation.
If a shopkeeper or vendor’s goods are destroyed in a fire, the insurance limit is 15 thousand GEL. If more than one property is destroyed, that amount will be multiplied to the number of destroyed shops or properties. In such case, the total sum of the limit is 15 million GEL.
Photo source: booking.com
By Thea Morrison