No more traffic cops
The week's news at a glance.
Kiev, Ukraine
President Viktor Yushchenko abolished Ukraine’s traffic police this week, saying the force was so corrupt it had to be scrapped entirely. Rather than writing tickets for speeding, police routinely demand that drivers pay “fines” in cash, directly to the officers. “You have discredited this service,” Yushchenko declared. “That is why I have decided there will be no traffic patrol in Ukraine as of today.” The directive puts some 23,000 people out of work. Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko said he would immediately begin building a new traffic force; in the meantime, regular police officers will also be responsible for enforcing traffic laws.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Home Depots are the new epicenters of ICE raids
In the Spotlight The chain has not provided many comments on the ongoing raids
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?
Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
The pros and cons of banning cellphones in classrooms
Pros and cons The devices could be major distractions