Russian citizens in debt and those with outstanding taxes or fines will be barred from the exams required for obtaining a driving license, the RBC news website reported Friday.
As of June 6, the Legislative Activities Commission has accepted changes to road traffic safety legislation proposed by the Justice Ministry.
The Internal Ministry supported the changes, and has also made it impossible for a debtor to register a vehicle.
This change is the first among several measures that will deny access to certain public services to those in debt. The Justice Ministry plans to implement similar measures by government decree in the coming months, pending the approval of previously proposed amendments by the State Duma.
The State Legal Department has opposed such a measure, saying that the restrictions on services should be explicitly stated in the amendments. First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov is in support of this position, RBC reported.
Already, Russians are prevented from traveling abroad if they hold debt in excess of 10,000 rubles ($155). Since the start of 2016, the Federal Court Marshals Service (FSSP) has also held the right to revoke the driving license of any debtor found in violation of traffic laws, RBC reported.