Road patrol service or road patrol service - which is correct?

However, in 1998, the first major reform took place: the traffic police was renamed State Road Safety Inspectorate (STSI). This change reflected the expansion of the service's functions - now it was responsible not only for cars, but also for general road safety, including pedestrians, cyclists and even horse-drawn vehicles. But here's what's interesting: Traffic police as a separate unit appeared even earlier - in 1993, but its name was often confused with the traffic police / traffic police.

• 📅 1936 — creation of the State Automobile Inspectorate (GAI).
• 🚔 1993 — the emergence of the traffic police as a division of the traffic police (at that time not yet the traffic police).
• 📜 1998 — The traffic police has been renamed the traffic police, but the traffic police remains part of its structure.
• 🔄 2002–2026 - Numerous reforms, but traffic police as a term is firmly established.

Today traffic police is a whole system that includes several divisions, including traffic police. But the very name “Road Patrol Service” is officially enshrined in the orders of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. But why then do some people still say “road guard”?

2. “Guard” or “patrol” - what is the difference?

Here lies the main reason for the confusion. The fact is that initially there were two types of divisions in the structure of the traffic police/traffic police:

1. Road patrol services (DPS) - employees served on stationary posts (for example, on exits from cities, on highways). Their main task is to control passing cars, check documents, and record violations in a certain place.
2. Road patrol services (also traffic police!) — officers were patrolling sections of roads with cars, moving along the route and responding to traffic violations.

Over time, the functions of these divisions were combined, but the abbreviation DPS stayed. However, in colloquial speech people continued to use both variants: “guard” (from the word “post”) and “patrol” (from the word “patrol”). At the same time, in the official documents of the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2002, the name "Road Patrol Service"** (DPS).

Thus, the correct term today is “Road Patrol Service”** (DPS). However, in some regions you can still find signs or documents mentioning “road patrol service” - these are either outdated forms or local features. For example, in Belarus and some CIS countries the term “post service” is still used.

⚠️ Attention! The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (Code of Administrative Offenses) and other regulations specifically mention DPS as part of the traffic police. If a protocol is issued to you, it must have the stamp or signature of a traffic police officer, and not a “guard service”.

3. Why are traffic police and traffic police still confused?

Even after the reforms of 1998 and 2002, many drivers continue to say “traffic police” or “traffic police”, meaning the officers who stand on the road with a baton. This is due to several factors:

• 🧠 Habit — the term “traffic police” has been used for more than 60 years, and the older generation still uses it.
• 📺 Media and culture - in films, TV series and news they often say “traffic police officers”, even when talking about patrol officers.
• 📋 Documents - some forms still contain old terminology (for example, in certificates of road accidents).
• 🚓 Appearance — the uniforms of traffic police and traffic police officers are often the same, which creates confusion.

In addition, traffic police is a whole system that includes not only traffic police, but also other units:

• 📝 Registration and examination departments (issuance of licenses, car registration).
• 🔍 Search departments (search for stolen cars).
• 🚧 Traffic management departments (installation of signs, markings).
• 📊 Analytical departments (road accident statistics).

A DPS - this is only that part of the traffic police that directly works on the roads: patrols, stops drivers, records violations. Therefore, when you see an inspector with a radar, it is correct to say: “This is a traffic police officer,” and not “Staff Police” (although this is acceptable in everyday life).

4. What is the official name of the service in 2026?

Today the following structure operates:

1. State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia - the main department that oversees all road safety issues.
2. DPS (Road Patrol Service) - a division of the traffic police responsible for patrolling roads.
3. Traffic police traffic police - the full official name of the service that we see on the roads.

This is confirmed by Order No. 664 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated August 23, 2017, which clearly states the tasks of the traffic police:

“The road patrol service of the State Road Safety Inspectorate exercises control and supervision of road traffic, ensures safety on roads, prevents and suppresses violations of the Road Traffic Rules.”

Thus, in 2026 it is correct to say “Road Patrol Service” (DPS) or “DPS Traffic Police”. The term “road patrol service” is outdated and is not used in official documents, although it can still be found in some regions or in colloquial speech.

Interestingly, in some CIS countries the terminology is different:

• 🇧🇾 In Belarus - traffic police (State Automobile Inspectorate).
• 🇺🇦 In Ukraine - patrol police (since 2015).
• 🇰🇿 In Kazakhstan - Traffic police.

In Russia, since 2002, the name has been fixed DPS, and should be used in formal situations.

5. How not to make mistakes when communicating with an inspector?

Although in everyday life you can say “I was stopped by the traffic police,” in some cases it is important to use the correct terminology. Here are some tips:

Ask to see your service ID|Make sure that the document says “DPS” or “road patrol service”|Take a photo or write down the inspector’s details (full name, ID number)|Don’t give in to provocations—communicate politely, even if you don’t agree with the violation-->

If the inspector presents a certificate that says “road patrol service,” it could be:

• 📜 Outdated form (in some regions the documents have not yet been replaced).
• 🚨 Fake (very unlikely, but worth checking).
• 🏛️ Local features (for example, in the republics of the North Caucasus, the old formulations are sometimes retained).

In any case, if you have doubts about the legitimacy of the inspector, you have the right:

1. Call by phone 112 and clarify whether there is a traffic police post in this area.
2. Ask to see your official ID and write down its details.
3. Take a photo or video of the communication process (this is legal!).

⚠️ Attention! If the inspector refuses to show identification or behaves suspiciously, do not hand him documents or get into his car. Call the police immediately at 102 or 112.

6. Common mistakes and myths about traffic police

We’ve sorted out the terminology, but there are a lot of myths surrounding DPS. Let's look at the most common ones:

Myth 2: “DPS officers have the right to stop cars without reason.”

This is wrong. According to paragraph 84 of the Administrative Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a traffic police inspector can stop a vehicle only if there are grounds, for example:

• 🚗 Traffic violations (exceeding speed, improper parking).
• 📋 Conducting special events (raids, sobriety tests).
• 🔍 Availability of vehicle orientation (theft, search).
• 🚨 Providing assistance to other traffic participants.

If you are stopped without reason, you have the right to ask the inspector to explain the basis for the stop.

Myth 3: “The traffic police can fine you for anything.”

No, the traffic police inspector can issue fines only for violations provided for Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. For example, he does not have the right to fine for:

• 🚮 Dirty number (if it is readable, then the fine is illegal).
• 🎵 Loud music (if it does not disturb other drivers).
• 👕 Unfastened seat belt in the back seat (fine only for the driver and front passenger).

Myth 4: “DPS and traffic police will be abolished.”

In recent years, reforms have indeed been discussed, for example, the transfer of part of the functions of the traffic police to the jurisdiction of municipalities. However DPS as a road patrol service will remain — the subordination or name may simply change. There are no official statements about the abolition of the traffic police for 2026.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions