State Traffic Police Director Lyubomir Nikolov said damaged speedometer discs prompted bribery attempts by Automobile Administration inspectors who stopped trucks carrying Robbie Williams' concert equipment. Officers extorted five British drivers near the Black Cat complex in Sofia after halting 22 vehicles and finding potential violations in five trucks. Two drivers paid 200 leva each after being forced to withdraw money from ATMs, while a third surrendered 300 euros through Google Translate negotiations.
Angel Popov from the European Center for Transport Policies blamed systemic failures within the agency and accused leadership of hiring unqualified staff. He cited the former chairman of the Sofia examination committee, who lost his license for alcohol violations, yet continued to oversee driver testing programs. Popov warned that 13 percent of trucks register as overloaded on toll system scales, with some regions reaching 45 percent, while enforcement remains inconsistent across districts.
Angel Popov from the European Center for Transport Policies blamed systemic failures within the agency and accused leadership of hiring unqualified staff. He cited the former chairman of the Sofia examination committee, who lost his license for alcohol violations, yet continued to oversee driver testing programs. Popov warned that 13 percent of trucks register as overloaded on toll system scales, with some regions reaching 45 percent, while enforcement remains inconsistent across districts.
