MOSCOW, January 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has passed a law in its third reading, stripping members of parliament of the right to display special government number plates on their cars.
Until now MPs have been able to drive both their personal and work cars with registration plates showing the Russian flag. The number plates, which are the equivalent of a diplomatic passport for cars, give their drivers priority on the roads, unofficially enabling them to avoid traffic police checks, and granting them parking privileges.
The bill, which was backed by 430 lawmakers, well above the 226 needed, was introduced by State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and his six deputies representing pro-Kremlin party United Russia.
