The Armenian government has approved amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses, proposed by Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan, Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, and MP Armen Khachatryan.

According to the changes, drivers will transition from a 9-point penalty system to a 13-point system, as reported by Radar.am .

Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan stated that violations that do not directly impact traffic safety will allow some flexibility for drivers, depending on the situation.

"I emphasize safety because there are general traffic rules, and in some cases, certain infractions can be considered ‘forgivable.’ The state often does not impose stricter measures but instead applies fines or similar administrative penalties. However, there are violations that significantly affect road safety, and the state must take a firm stance to prevent such behavior," she said.

According to the minister, increasing the penalty points aims to tighten regulations specifically concerning safety-related infractions.

"For instance, driving without a seatbelt, crossing into oncoming traffic, or using mobile devices while driving. These are areas where strict enforcement is necessary to prioritize safety," she added.

The changes are set to take effect on May 1, 2025.

"On that date, drivers with remaining penalty points will see their total automatically increase to 13. For example, if someone had 9 points but had already used 2, they will have 13 points starting May 1, allowing for a more flexible approach," the minister explained.